Liverpool could now keep 31-year-old despite rumours over £15m sale

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Liverpool now reportedly keep Joel Matip this summer despite recent rumours that the Reds were open to selling the 31-year-old centre-back.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Cameroonian defender is still appreciated by Jurgen Klopp, and there is a growing sense that the centre-back will actually stay at Anfield despite CalcioMercato reporting that Liverpool are plotting to sell Matip for as much as £15m.

Romano said on Matip’s future at Liverpool: “Despite rumours to the contrary, I’m not sure Liverpool are ready to let him go. He has always been appreciated by Klopp, on and off the pitch, so he could still have a role to play at Anfield. These kind of decisions will be made in the next weeks.”

Matip is one of numerous players in Liverpool’s squad this season to see their performances take a massive dip, with the former Schalke 04 star falling from Virgil van Dijk’s dream centre-back partner to a backup for the likes of Ibrahima Konate and even Joe Gomez.

Indeed, injuries have also played their part in Matip’s poor campaign for the Reds, and whilst Liverpool might not have an intention to offload the defender, selling the German-born centre-back might not be the worst idea for Klopp’s side this summer.

Liverpool should explore selling Matip in the upcoming transfer window

Matip has been an integral part of Liverpool’s squad in the Klopp era, yet whilst letting go of the ‘fantastic’ defender would be difficult, the time could not be more ideal for the Reds to part with the centre-back and to bring in a new face for the backline.

With Konate the future of the Liverpool defence, signing a player of a similar age profile to the French centre-back could be a good step in the right direction for the Merseyside club in rebuilding their squad, and selling Matip could help fund this process this summer.