As Liverpool seemingly move on from buying a new midfielder this summer, other areas of the squad could still do with addressing.
Bringing in a top-class holding player quickly became a priority for the Reds after Arne Slot assessed his players during pre-season.
However, after Liverpool failed with a bid to sign Martin Zubimendi, it appears that search is now at an end. It has been claimed that Liverpool have no alternative to Zubimendi in the market.
Although Alan Varela has been touted as a good option, it appears that the Reds have little interest in going after a second choice.
There is still a need to bring some new players in for Slot, though. And it now looks as though Liverpool may turn their attention to bolstering the defence.
Liverpool keeping tack of Maxim De Cuyper
It had initially appeared as though signing a new centre-back would be Liverpool’s priority this summer.
Sepp van den Berg has impressed Slot, though, and there is still a chance that the Dutchman stays at Anfield beyond the end of the window.
If that happens, then it no longer really looks as though Liverpool need another body.
Nevertheless, there has been a clamour to sign a player who can play left centre-back as well as left-back. With Andy Robertson aging and Kostas Tsimikas firmly a back-up, the Reds need a succession plan in that area.
And according to Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad, that may include a move to sign Club Brugge’s Maxim De Cuyper.
READ MORE: Club think ‘last minute’ offer may arrive for Belgium international amid Liverpool interest
De Cuyper has just signed a new contract with the Belgian side and is said to have ‘made great strides’ over the past year.
This resulted in the 23-year-old being called up for the Belgium squad for Euro 2024 and has also reportedly meant that De Cuyper is now on the radar of a host of European sides.
Real Betis, Marseille, Ajax and Wolfsburg are all claimed to have ‘tried to seduce’ the left-back this summer, while Liverpool and Arsenal are supposedly ‘following’ De Cuyper, too.
The player is said to be keen on playing in the Champions League for boyhood club Brugge and cementing himself as a starter for Belgium before thinking about moving on.
Liverpool planning for left-back future
It perhaps is not the most pressing issue in the Liverpool squad right now, but the Reds could do with knowing their next steps at left-back.
As seen in Liverpool’s interest in Giorgi Mamardashvili, they are seemingly keen to make sure they are well covered when big players leave over the coming years.
Mamardashvili looks set to be the long-term replacement for Alisson Becker and it would be good if Liverpool can sort the same out for Robertson, too.
At six-feet tall, De Cuyper has the look of a player who could fill in at centre-back if needs be and that will no doubt intrigue the squad planners at Anfield.
It doesn’t look like anything is especially imminent where the Belgian is concerned, but he’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.
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