Liverpool are in the midst of an injury crisis. They are down just one recognised centre back and they’ll need to remedy the situation as soon as possible. Many believe they’ll move in January whilst the club are reportedly maintaining that they’ll wait until the summer. Liverpool should consider exploiting Barcelona interest in Joel Matip to help land Dayot Upamecano and Perr Schuurs.
Liverpool injury crisis
The Reds backline has been absolutely devastated in recent weeks and months.
Jürgen Klopp went into the season with just three centre backs after Dejan Lovren was sold and not replaced.
The decision backfired shortly after the season started.
Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after rupturing his ACL in the Merseyside Derby whilst Joe Gomez’s season has been put on a lengthy hold by a knee injury of his own.
This has left Joel Matip as the last centre back standing with Fabinho filling in alongside.
Barcelona and Joel Matip
Sport in Spain recently claimed that Barcelona are considering a January swoop for Joel Matip.
The Camp Nou club were thought to be considering investing in another defender in the near future with Antonio Rudiger also mooted as a potential target.
This report came prior to the Catalan club’s defensive options worsening with a serious injury to Gerard Pique.
There have been suggestions in Spain that the defender could be out for at least four months with a knee problem.
Liverpool could exploit crisis
Given the dearth of options at Barcelona and the development in their situation since their interest in Joel Matip was first reported, Liverpool could exploit their desperation.
Michael Edwards is a shrewd negotiator and has shaken the Spanish side down before, negotiating a huge fee for Philippe Coutinho.
The director could look to cash in a massive amount for Joel Matip and use the money to land reported targets Dayot Upamecano and Perr Schuurs.
Reports in Italy have claimed Schuurs could be available for £27m.
Whilst Upamecano’s release clause stands at £40m.
The Reds could recoup most of these fees by selling Matip at a markup price should Barcelona come knocking.
We’d still be a defender up on where we are we would have done so at a snip, landing two defenders set for a decade of greatness for a bargain net spend.
It would be sad to see Matip go and it’s definitely not our first option but should the La Liga side come knocking it’d be foolish not to squeeze them for every penny when we can use those pennies very wisely.
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