Doing a deal for Kalidou Koulibaly could be Liverpool’s best way of bouncing back next season. The defender is reportedly available.
Il Mattino claims Napoli are open to a deal for Kalidou Koulibaly. The club must trim their wage bill and ending the defender’s £6m-a-year contract is a way to do so.
But they do have to sacrifice one thing – their asking price. Originally, they wanted £86m but that has dropped to £38m.
Bayern Munich could pay it but they worry both Liverpool and Manchester United will get involved. It’s hard to pass this one up, after all.
And that brings us to another claim. Christian Falk of Bild claims Liverpool do want Koulibaly. He took to Twitter to confirm the rumour.
Bouncing back
Liverpool are in the midst of a torrid season. It’s one that has seen injury after injury, dismantling the side bit by bit.
The worry, then, is that this carries into next season. Players are being run ragged, after all. Not only that, but the mental side effects may take time to disappear.
A jolt of new blood and confidence could be the remedy, then. And Koulibaly could bring that.
He’s a truly elite defender and one who should suit Liverpool. The player is good on the ball, athletic and very experienced.
It makes him a player who should sure things up and inspire others with confidence. Having Koulibaly back there is the polar opposition of this year’s defence.
On top of that, he offers an insurance plan against this year’s problems. What if Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez or Joel Matip suffer a reoccurrence?
What if they’re just not the same players post-injury?
We don’t know that yet. But having a ready-made player like Koulibaly lessens the risk.
There’s another thing to consider, too. Liverpool’s squad is ageing and will require a rebuild soon. But if the club believe this squad has one more year of success in them, Koulibaly can help achieve that.
He’d strengthen things immediately in a way a young player couldn’t. It’s something to consider – perhaps Liverpool don’t want to rebuild just yet.
And in truth, that’s the only way we see this happening. Koulibaly turns 30 this summer, making that £38m fee quite a large one. Liverpool don’t typically do those deals.
It only makes sense if Liverpool plan on an immediate bounce-back, then. If they believe the problems run deep and that they must build a new squad, then Koulibaly isn’t the signing for them. Not at his age.
For one more run at the title, though? It’s a signing that could work wonders.
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