Liverpool’s right-back Nathaniel Clyne is reportedly a target for Spanish Giants Barcelona. Since the departure of Dani Alves to Juventus, Barcelona have tried to fill the void with the options that were available to them. Young Sergi Roberto and 2015 signing Alex Vidal filled in as the replacements but Luis Enrique is keen on getting an upgrade and that is why the club has targeted some right fullbacks from the other European clubs.
Targeting Nathaniel Clyne makes sense as the Liverpool man is somebody who has really been outstanding with his performances over the past three years. The 25-year old graduated from the Crystal Palace academy and gained promotion to the Eagles senior squad in 2008.
A four-year stint in the Championship with Palace developed him into a sturdy player with a tough mentality. The defender came into the limelight with his next club Southampton where he signed a four-year deal with the newly promoted club in 2012. The 25-year old was one of the mainstays of the Saint’s defence as they thrived in the Premier League defying the odds and securing respectable finishes each year.
At St. Mary’s, Clyne’s wonderfully consistent performances caught the eye of the other big clubs as well as the selectors of the national team as he got picked for the England squad in 2014.
In 2015, Liverpool fought off Manchester United to sign the fullback for a fee of £12.5m on a five-year contract. Since then, Clyne has appeared 60 times for the Reds in all competitions, scoring twice.
A powerful fullback who excels in the defensive phase as well as in the attacking is always sought after in modern football. The Englishman’s ability to deliver dangerous balls in from the wide areas, overlapping consistently to provide the width and support to the forwards is something which will suit well the type of play at Camp Nou. Most importantly, Clyne is also a very good defender and is a strong tackler. He is someone who can provide the right balance for the team he plays for.
Having been contracted to Liverpool till 2020, it is unlikely that Jürgen Klopp would be willing to let go of the player. So far, the fullback has been one of the consistent members of the first team squad for his German boss which reflects his importance.
At 25 years of age, the defender also has a lot of good years left in him and one way or the other it would take a pretty hefty bid if Barcelona are to secure the signing of the player in the upcoming transfer windows.
