Arne Slot favourite can fix MAJOR issue at Liverpool - but there's a catch

Tom Weber

• Updated: 1 May 2024 20:48 BST
• 9 min read

Quilindschy Hartman has been in the headlines in recent days.

The Dutch full-back was in the stands for Arsenal's 5-0 demolition of Chelsea and transfer speculation wasn't long in coming. The Blues are in the market for a left-back to replace Hartman's compatriot Ian Maatsen and it has now been claimed that the 22-year-old was already in concrete talks with Chelsea over a summer move.

However, negotiations ground to an abrupt halt in early April. Hartman was injured in Feyenoord's 4-2 victory over Utrecht on March 31 and it was subsequently revealed that the marauding left-back has suffered a long-term knee injury. The Dutchman is not expected to return to action until 2025.

STATS

Quilindschy Hartman

D (CL)

Feyenoord

Quilindschy Hartman

D (CL)

Feyenoord

All Tournaments

2023/24

• 38

  Games

• 0

  Goals

• 7

  Assists

View all stats

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It is a shame for the youngster because not only was he a shoo-in to feature for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 but he was also gearing up for a Premier League move. In addition to Chelsea, Newcastle and Bayern Munich had been interested in Hartman, as revealed by FootballTransfers.

It's also potentially a shame for Liverpool because the Feyenoord star could also have been an ideal summer signing for incoming head coach Arne Slot.

Hartman to fix left-back problem

This season has illustrated that Liverpool have a bit of a left-back problem. Kostas Tsimikas is an adequate backup player, while defensive Swiss army knife Joe Gomez is similarly solid, but neither has managed to set the world alight like Andy Robertson used to in previous seasons.

The big issue is that Robertson hasn't really been able to recapture his earlier form either. Not only was the Scot injured for a few months but since coming back into the team, he hasn't been particularly impressive despite his recent goal against West Ham.

Robertson turned 30 in March and it seems almost as though age is beginning to catch up with him. Data analytics firm SciSports have noticed a significant decline in overall ability since 2022, which lends credence to the suspicion that he isn't the same player he was several years ago anymore.

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While Robertson is on the decline, Hartman is on the rise. At 22, the Dutchman is already deemed a better player than Robertson was at this age and Hartman still has the potential to exceed the 30-year-old's current ability level. Both are marauding left-backs, though Hartman is more comfortable combining with teammates in central areas.

Crucially, of course, new Liverpool boss Arne Slot is intimately familiar with Hartman's game and the 22-year-old has developed into a senior Dutch international under the tactician's tutelage. His unfortunate injury, however, means that Slot will have to find a different solution to Liverpool's left-back issue for the time being.

Perhaps the two will be reunited in 2025.