Why signing Simakan is a big gamble for Liverpool

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 17 Jul 2024 13:43 BST
5 min read

Liverpool haven’t had a hugely active transfer window so far.

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One can only hope that this is more down to the club’s hierarchy working in the shadows to secure moves rather than having their plans plastered everywhere.

Michael Edwards runs a tight ship and will certainly be on the lookout for the best in quality as the Reds continue their transition from the Jurgen Klopp era.

The club do need defensive reinforcements but whether the recently linked Mohamed Simakan is the right name for the job is up for debate.

Simakan may frequently be described as aggressive but the Frenchman also has technical ability which resembles so much more than a tenacious centre-back. The Frenchman was initially primed as a striker; he scored 130 goals at Under-11s level before joining Marseille’s academy from 2011 to 2015, partnering with compatriot Boubacar Kamara.

He joined SC Bel Air, a club a step down in his home city, and became captain there. During his tenure, he was knocked back by several professional clubs who took him on trial.

Simakan’s resilient nature on the pitch very much translates to his approach to development off it. He joined Ligue 1 club Strasbourg in February 2017 after being scouted by academy coach Francois Keller but tore his cruciate ligament in the summer of 2018. He had to wait a year later to make his senior debut, a Europa League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa.

© IMAGO - Simakan has been linked to Liverpool

Despite his towering height at 6'2", Simakan broke into the Strasbourg first team as a right-back. Upon joining RB Leipzig, he has more regularly played at centre-back, but is comfortable in both positions, either as part of a three-man or four-man defence.

He was brought to to Leipzig to replace Dayot Upamecano, who had moved to Bayern.

The bedding in period in Germany took time but he soon became a starter as a right-sided centre-back in a back-three under former Die Roten Bullen head coach Dominic Tedesco. Since then he’s been an ever-present entity at Leipzig.

Simakan is hardly a nimble-footed player, he struggles in congested areas, but he possesses enough pace to split lines open.

Current ETV

Mohamed Simakan

D (CR)

RB Leipzig

Mohamed Simakan

D (CR)

RB Leipzig

ETV Range

€22.3M - €37.1M

He ranked first against Bundesliga defenders for xG last season as well as touches in the opposition box. He also ranked top for assists; totalling six goal contributions in 32 league games, or over 0.18 per match.

Simakan is a tenacious defender, known for his aggressive style of play. He can excel in defensive duels and dominate games but consistency has been a big issue for the 24-year-old so far.

As well as being a physical player, Simakan possesses great intelligence. With an acute awareness of his positional responsibilities, he is disciplined enough not to compromise the team's structure.

Tackles remain solid, if unremarkable, at 1.93 per 90 minutes, and he wins 2.40 aerial duels, but really Simakan excels in a system that allows him to spring off the last man and make up part of the attacking threat.

Would Simakan to Liverpool make sense?

© IMAGO - Arne Slot is looking to strengthen Liverpool's defence

Positionally, Simakan does not make a huge amount of sense for Liverpool. The right side of central defence has Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah.

Furthermore, the club are well covered at right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley.

BS Group, the player's agency, told us earlier this year in an exclusive interview: “Of course, there is some interest from clubs, but we always think: with the player that we have to make the choice to move at the right moment at the right place. And when you want the right moment in the right place, sometimes you have to be patient.

Arne Slot evolved his Feyenoord system to use an inverted full-back, usually asking right-back Lutsharel Geertruida to come inside. From here, the back line has converted into a solid three, with a double pivot just ahead.

Question marks remain over Simakan’s ability to ball-play if he was used as a fullback in such a setup - he would work a lot better played centrally and then making up a three, sometimes pivoting off Virgil van Dijk, who will sit deeper.

We can suspect there is an admiration for Simakan from Liverpool but whether he would be the right choice as an acquisition to spearhead the club’s backline in the coming years is another matter.