Liverpool like the look of Matthias Ginter, according to reports. The Reds could move for the defender.
Bild claims Liverpool are one of a few sides looking at Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter. The player is out of contract in 2022 and won’t go into next season on the same contract.
Thus there are two options – sign a new deal or move on for cash. Liverpool may just want to put up that cash, too.
There’s a need for a new defender, after all. The Reds went into this campaign with three senior centre-backs but have played the majority of the campaign without any of them.
Virgil van Dijk was out for the season by mid-October. Joe Gomez followed in early November. Joel Matip featured sporadically up until late January until he, too, picked up a season-ending injury.
Even Ozan Kabak, who arrived on February 1st to replace the injured stars, will miss the final five games with an injury. And Fabinho, who was originally supposed to offer cover, makes such a difference in midfield that he has to stay there.
Clearly, Liverpool need someone permanently this summer.
Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have looked capable, admittedly. They’re certainly not perfect but given the circumstances, their performances are quite remarkable.
They have next to no experience, yet they played alongside one another in wins against Southampton, Manchester United and West Brom. But Liverpool would understandably see it as a risk to hand them prominent roles again next season.
They’ll want someone more proven and more reliable. They may have found it.
Matthias Ginter to Liverpool?
Ginter is a player right in his prime and who has experience with a couple of clubs towards the top of the Bundesliga. He’s also the leader in Gladbach’s defence and has captained the side on occasion – something that could tempt Liverpool
After all, none of the current injured players will be reliable next season. The Reds don’t yet know how well they’ll recover and there’s no guarantee that they’ll play the whole season.
Thus bringing in leadership and experience feels important. Someone who Liverpool can rely on to manage the defence through games. Ginter is that.
It makes him arguably the safest option this summer. He’ll be available at a discount, is right in his prime, has the experience of playing regularly in the top flight, and knows how to lead a backline.
While he wouldn’t be as exciting as, say, Ibrahima Konate, he’s a safer option. Konate has much more potential and could be a world-beater. But he’s more expensive, very young, hasn’t played regularly over several seasons because of injury, and hasn’t developed into a leader yet.
Liverpool must decide what they want. The security of Ginter? The potential of Konate?
There isn’t really room for both.