Jurgen Klopp is eager so as to add a left footed participant to the backline, for tactical causes we’ve already explored. However with just a few preliminary targets not understanding, what’s the precise profile Liverpool want?
The best recruit is a tall, sturdy, fast, left footed centre again who may play as a left full again.
Skilled and skilled in constructing out from the again, they are going to permit Liverpool to play by opposition stress, in addition to holding a excessive line of defense.
Whereas they need to have expertise on the high degree, they’re ideally younger sufficient to play alongside Virgil Van Dijk in a again three earlier than succeeding him as the long run accomplice to Ibrahima Konate in a again 4.
And in the event that they don’t break the financial institution too, that may be pretty.
So who else matches the invoice?
The best goal
The best goal is Josko Gvardiol. The self-declared Liverpool fan remains to be solely 21, but has already made his title each at RB Leipzig and for Croatia, reaching the semi-finals of each the Champions League and the latest World Cup.
A sturdy defender at 6′ 1″, Gvardiol has performed as a centre again and a left again for membership and nation.
However his most eye-catching numbers are additional ahead: his 0.09 xG per 90 places him within the ninetieth percentile for central defenders, and his 1.04 shot-creating actions per 90 places him forward of Liverpool’s present beginning centre backs. And he’s a standout ball provider, with 1.0 progressive carries per 90.
Sadly, he’s additionally in all probability going to maneuver to Man Metropolis for €100m this summer time. However he’s an excellent baseline for us to make use of.
The prospect
Elsewhere within the Bundesliga is Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie. The 21-year-old has benefited massively from the teaching of Xabi Alonso, who makes use of a 3-4-3 with a field midfield just like Liverpool’s, albeit with width coming from wing backs.
Capable of play each as an outdoor centre again or a left wing again, Hincapie tends to get ahead and assault opponents.
And his 1.85 progressive carries and 0.44 profitable take-ons per 90 are backed by stable defensive numbers, making 2.32 tackles and 1.38 blocks per 90.
He’s nearer in profile to Robertson than Gvardiol, and just like the Scot he could be trying to get ahead out of the again three every time potential.
And like Robertson, he isn’t the tallest, standing slightly below 6ft. An incredible participant, however given his similarity to Liverpool’s present choices, not essentially an ideal match.
The Premier League confirmed
One choice Liverpool have already explored is West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd.
One other crushed semi-finalist in Qatar, the Moroccan bounced again from damage in his debut Premier League season to assist the Hammers beat the drop and win the UEFA Convention League.
His 0.12 xG per 90 demonstrates the aerial menace he carries, scoring twice within the league this season.
Having began his profession as a quantity 10, Aguerd confirmed his proficiency at enjoying out from the again at earlier membership Rennes, the place he profiled equally to Virgil Van Dijk – although his sport grew to become extra conservative as West Ham had been dragged right into a relegation battle.
However this merely showcased his glorious defending skills, making 1.47 blocks per 90 and 4.46 clearances per 90.
Liverpool’s field defending was suspect in 2022/23, because the centre backs continued to defend passively regardless of receiving much less safety from midfield than ordinary. Aguerd would clear up this downside, however he’s already 27 and has by no means performed at full again.
Liverpool may do far worse, however maybe a bit higher.
The correct Liverpool signing
On condition that Liverpool normally signal a participant with no prior hyperlinks who seems to be sensible, one to look at is Feyenoord’s David Hancko.
The Slovak was a key determine in Feyenoord’s underdog Eredivisie title win final 12 months, enjoying an exciting, excessive urgent model below Arne Slot.
Shut observers of the Eredivisie named Hancko the most effective defender within the league final season, over new Arsenal signing Jurrien Timber, to whom the 24 12 months outdated profiles equally.
His 2.13 shot creating actions, 7.44 progressive passes and a pair of.16 touches within the opponent’s field per 90 all place him within the 99th percentile for centre backs worldwide, together with his 0.1xG per 90 within the 93rd percentile and a pair of.07 progressive carries per 90 within the 98th percentile.
Hancko is an excellent progressive passer and provider, a real purpose menace from set items and open play. His lengthy vary passing resembles that of Van Dijk’s, and his crossing approach is just like Robertson’s, but he’s additionally an enormous unit who can defend his field – particularly making clear slide tackles in his personal penalty space, a excessive threat excessive reward technique that he’s seemingly mastered.
He’s typically doing this having tracked again to defend a counter, with groups trying to goal Feyenoord’s excessive line of defense.
Hancko can be adept at defending the huge areas, as Feyenoord play with an inverted full again on the proper and an attacking full again on the left, typically leaving Hancko to cowl out huge, just like Ibrahima Konate’s position behind Trent Alexander-Arnold.
For individuals who wish to pair the exhausting cheddar of statistics with the candy grape of the attention check, this reel demonstrates the entire above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh5fFP5IQLI
After a low-key €6m transfer from Sparta Prague, Hancko made himself indispensable to a title successful facet.
Prizing him from Eredivisie wouldn’t be low cost, but when it occurs, Liverpool have an excellent left sided defender and a very good candidate to someday succeed Van Dijk.
The Liverpool means
Or Liverpool may signal… no one.
If it had been my chequebook, I’d be difficult Metropolis for Gvardiol this summer time. However ought to Liverpool select to maintain their powder dry, there are some intriguing tactical prospects.
We earlier beneficial a wonderful Tifo video on how Liverpool may benefit from returning to the 4-3-3, maximising Andy Robertson’s full again play. However Liverpool may additionally tweak their again three setup in various methods. There’s the 3-4-3, dropping a defensive midfielder into the backline and producing width from wing backs…
…or a 3-5-2 which packs the midfield while unleashing Darwin Nunez…
…or perhaps a lopsided 4-2-3-1, with Trent completely primarily based in midfield and a defensive proper again masking behind him, permitting Robertson to fly forwards with a again three behind him.
Such is the character of soccer, even if you stand nonetheless, the sport round you is all the time transferring. The query is whether or not Liverpool transfer now, or watch for a extra opportune second to strike.
MORE: Explaining why Liverpool need a left-sided centre-back
