Liverpool could be paving the way to sign Josko Gvardiol. The defender shone brightly at the World Cup last year.
According to Goal, there are now ‘growing whispers’ that Joel Matip could leave Liverpool this summer. It would be a huge decision from the club – Matip has been a vital player for years.
But there’s a sense that they have little choice. Liverpool likely do need to do something at centre-back in the summer and possibly something drastic.
One look at the current situation explains that. Virgil van Dijk is injured and turns 32 in the summer. His form also hasn’t quite been at the level you’d expect.
Ibrahima Konaté is also injured – again. He missed most of the season with Liverpool and the 23-year-old, as good as he is, does have an unfortunate history with injuries.
Joe Gomez also has that history, while his form hasn’t been up to scratch this season, either. And then there’s Matip – a player with, again, a rough injury history. He’s also turning 32 this summer.
Liverpool, then, don’t have reliable options at the back and moving Matip on makes a lot of sense. Even if it would be with a heavy heart.
Doing so, though, could open the door to a massive signing.
Josko Gvardiol and Liverpool
Josko Gvardiol was one of the standout players at the World Cup. He was fantastic for Croatia and quickly built a reputation as one of the tournament’s best defenders.
Manager Zlatko Dalic labelled him ‘incredible’ for his efforts and 90min report that Liverpool like him a lot. Matip leaving might just open the door to a move.
And it’s a race the Reds could win.
“My dream club? That would definitely be Liverpool,” Gvardiol told RTL Danas. “Since I was little, I watched a lot of their matches with my dad.
“We covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart.”
The 21-year-old is an outstanding player and an even bigger prospect. If Liverpool want to lockdown the future of their defence once and for all, we see no better target. Matip may need to move on for it to be possible – but what a statement signing it would be.