Liverpool to rival Manchester United for £34m defender

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Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries, with Manchester United also in the race.

According to CalcioMercato, the Dutch international is now on the Reds’ radar, with a number of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on the right-back superstar heading into the January transfer window.

As per the report, Liverpool are joined by United and Chelsea in their pursuit for Dumfries, who Inter could sell in 2024 for €40m (£34m) as they look to fund their Serie A title-push.

With Liverpool having no natural right-back to cover Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dumfries as a signing makes quite a bit of sense for the Anfield giants heading into January.

However, given Dumfries’ ultra-attacking playing style and Inter’s asking price, there are some reasonable question marks over why Liverpool would target the defender.

Indeed, Dumfries could be suited for the Premier League. But for what Liverpool need, the Inter defender might be the last thing the Reds should be exploring.

Dumfries is the exact sort of player Liverpool shouldn’t be signing

There’s no denying that Dumfries is a good player, with the defender one of the Netherlands’ best during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and a key clog for Inter in last season’s UEFA Champions League final run.

Yet for what Liverpool need, the right-back could not be any different from Alexander-Arnold, with Dumfries an all-action fullback who drives at wingers and hugs the touchline like a winger.

There’s no doubt that the defender would be a chaotic hit in the Premier League, yet Liverpool need someone who can fill in for Alexander-Arnold and bring the creative qualities the Reds miss when his is absent.