Liverpool identify €35m Joel Matip replacement after horror injury
Tom Weber
- 8 Dec 2023 03:53 CST
- 3 min read
Liverpool have identified Maxence Lacroix as a replacement for Joel Matip, according to a report.
The Reds defender has likely played his final game for the Merseyside club after suffering ACL damage that will keep him out for an extended period of time, probably for the rest of the campaign. Given the severity of the injury at this stage in the 32-year-old's career and the fact that his contract expires in the summer, it is unlikely that Liverpool will keep him around.
While Matip's return to the pitch is a concern for the future, the more pressing need for the Reds right now is to find adequate centre-back cover as they find themselves in the midst of a title challenge. In addition to a host of other Bundesliga players, Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck has recently been said to be on the radar of Liverpool.
However, the 24-year-old will be very expensive due to his significant potential and the length of his contract, not to mention the simple fact that Dortmund will be reluctant to sell in January. Liverpool have also been looking at Sporting CP's Goncalo Incacio, but his €60 million release clause means that he won't be a bargain either.
Liverpool's new CB target
But there is perhaps another centre-back whom the Reds could realistically target in January. According to The Sun, Jurgen Klopp and company have identified Maxence Lacroix as a potential replacement for Matip.
It's not hard to see why this would be the case. Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke was the man who brought Lacroix to Wolfsburg and the Frenchman was, at one point, one of the Bundesliga's most highly-rated young defenders.
The Wolves, however, missed their chance to cash in on the 23-year-old when his value peaked in late 2021 and early 2022 and his stocks have diminished ever since, with ex-Liverpool target Micky van de Ven supplanting the Frenchman last season. Lacroix's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has dropped from a zenith of €36m to just €11m over the last two seasons.
This term, Lacroix is a regular again, but with his contract expiring in 2025, Wolfsburg are said to be open to cashing in on him sooner rather than later. Despite his drop in value, the Bundesliga outfit are reportedly holding out for some €35m.
On the face of it, this amount is quite a lot given his drop in performance levels, but he has previously shown that he can be a top-class defender. It could be a risk worth taking as Klopp has often enough proved that he can get the best out of players.
