Liverpool need a new Van Dijk! Klopp's transfer options assessed in ANOTHER problem position

Sam McGuire

• 7 Aug 2023 13:25 BST
• 5 min read

Liverpool’s summer rebuild has come to an abrupt standstill.

The Reds currently have the smallest squad in the Premier League (22) having lost Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabio Carvalho during this transfer window. There’s also talk that Nat Phillips and Caoimhin Kelleher could still depart.

Jurgen Klopp, so far, has only managed to add Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to his ranks. It has been over a month since a new face arrived at Anfield, though they have had multiple bids turned down for Romeo Lavia during this time.

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The midfield is looking a little light right now but the defence is also an issue for the Merseysiders. Joel Matip was exposed in that right-sided centre-back role in the 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich while Joe Gomez now appears to be the understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

A number of reports had claimed that Liverpool were in the market for a young centre-back who could play a part in the immediate future as well as be a pivotal part of their team in the long term. Levi Colwill and Josko Gvardiol were both linked but the former signed a new deal with Chelsea to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge while the latter just completed a €90 million move to Manchester City.

It isn’t necessarily viewed as a priority alongside a new centre-midfielder given Liverpool have the numbers in defence with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Gomez and Matip, but if the Reds don’t bring in defensive reinforcements this summer, it could cost them this season.

With this in mind, here’s a look at three centre-backs who tick a lot of boxes for the 2019/20 Premier League champions.

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Castello Lukeba

This move could be a little risky. The 20-year-old is a transfer target for RB Leipzig as the Bundesliga side look to replace Gvardiol.

Lyon have, so far, rejected offers for the left-footed centre-back and others are being targeted by RB Leipzig but once they set their sights on someone, they usually end up with the player. If Liverpool sneak in here and pip the German team to his signature, it could sour the relationship between the Reds and the Red Bull-backed clubs.

The Merseysiders tend to raid Leipzig for players every summer and reports so seem to suggest there’s a healthy working dynamic between the two teams. Damaging that for Lukeba might not be the smartest thing to do but Klopp needs to think of the immediate future and the Reds do need a centre-back of Lukeba’s quality.

He isn’t the tallest, measuring in at 6ft, but he is a solid one-versus-one defender who can control wide areas. He’s calm and composed in possession and he can pick out passes.

With him and Konate flanking Van Dijk, Liverpool would have a physically dominant trio with a lot of pace in that defensive three.

Arthur Theate

Theate has gone a little under the radar following his move to Rennes last summer. He caught the eye with Bologna prior to making the switch to Ligue 1 in a deal believed to be worth €22m.

The 23-year-old Belgium international has experience at full-back, having almost exclusively played there for his country, but spent the majority of the 2022/23 campaign in France at centre-back.

The Rennes defender is very intelligent when defending and rarely commits fouls or picks up yellow cards. He’s expressive in possession but also secure - finding a teammate almost 90% of the time. The 6ft3 centre-back is also fairly dominant in the air having won over 64% of his aerial duels in France.

Liverpool do favour players who win their aerial duels, during his peak, Matip won 80% while Konate and Van Dijk tend to win over 70% of their battles. Theate ticks this particular box.

Strahinja Pavlovic

The 22-year-old has had an interesting career to date. The 6ft4 centre-back currently turns out for Red Bull Salzburg but he made his debut as a 17-year-old for Partizan Belgrade in his native Serbia.

He moved to Monaco in 2020 but spent time on loan with Cercle Brugge and Basel before moving to Austria in 2022 for a rumoured €9m fee.

The defensive juggernaut is deceptively tidy in possession and can carry the ball. In fact, he’s quite nimble in possession for someone of his size. He’s fairly quick too so he can cover wide(r) areas both with the ball and without it.

More importantly, though, he is naturally left-footed and this opens up new angles from that left-sided centre-back role. Andrew Robertson is more of a ball-carrier there whereas a passer might be better suited to the system.

He’s a wildcard shout given the league he plays in but his profile aligns with that Liverpool are after right now.