Transfers

Liverpool must hold onto Nathaniel Clyne for another season

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Liverpool might still hold onto Nathaniel Clyne, according to the Echo, and this is actually the most ideal course of action for Jurgen Klopp to take.

The English defender has struggled to find regular game time at Anfield over the last couple seasons, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s emergence as one of the best-attacking fullbacks restricting him to four starts in 18 months.

This lack of opportunities led to Clyne putting in a loan request in January but with the former Crystal Palace fullback still yet to settle on a final choice regarding his future, he could remain at the club for the final year of his contract and leave on a free next summer.

Nathaniel Clyne.
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

While this would mean that the Reds make a loss, it would mean that they would not need to sign a replacement and would head into the season with natural backup for Trent.

When the 20-year-old suffered a back injury in March and missed a couple of games, it meant that Klopp had to play Jordan Henderson and James Milner at right-back as Joe Gomez was also injured.

It was a difficult part of the season for the Reds and keeping Clyne would ensure that injury to Trent won’t harm them and would also mean that Gomez won’t be needed out of position at right back.

Joe Gomez.
Photo by Octavio Passos – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

The 2019/20 season is a huge one for Liverpool in terms of continuing their progress and hopefully going on to win the Premier League for the first time since the First Division was renamed in 1992.

The league title has eluded Liverpool for three decades and Klopp needs to be perfect in order to overcome the brilliant Manchester City side that Pep Guardiola has put together over the last three years.