Exclusive: £41m centre-back is READY to join Liverpool

Anfield Watch has been told that there is a player ready to join Liverpool in the future.

The Reds will be in the market for a centre-back this summer and one player who has been heavily linked with a £41m move to Anfield is Konstantinos Koulierakis.

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The Greek international has caught the eye in the Bundesliga this season and has also done very well on the international stage with the senior national team.

Liverpool scouts have been following his progress since he burst onto the scene at PAOK as a teenager and it's entirely possible that the Reds will decide to make a move for him this summer.

Anfield Watch spoke exclusively to his former coach at PAOK's academy Alexiadis Alexandros, who revealed in the right environment while it's difficult to predict, he believes Koulierakis would be ready to make the step-up to Liverpool.

You can read our conversation below:

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What was your first impression of him when you saw him for the first time?

I saw him when I was manager in PAOK U17. He was a member in the U15 of PAOK FC. He moved from Thessaloniki the previous year, his position was a 6-8. I scouted the group every weekend because in my mind I wanted to promote some younger players in the squad born in 2002 the next year.

The first think I note was that he played every game with passion.

⁠How highly rated was he in the PAOK academy?

At the first year was at the three top talents in his age group. From the moment he moved in the U17 and changed his position, he has been unstoppable up until now.

Where does he rank in terms of the players you have coaches so far?

I feel proud about that from that U17 group three players are valuable players of the National team of Greece, Konstantinos,Tzolis and Konstantelias. Generally Konstantinos belongs at the three top talents I have ever coached.

What kind of guy was he? Friendly?

Konstantinos is the personality with family principles. He respects everyone around him. He remains humble with confidence.

What stood out about him on the pitch?

First of all defensively he has great concentration and he is aggressive. He loves to move the defence line up on the field.

Offensively, his long pass and the vertical game are the strong points. One of the strongest characteristics is that he is not impacted by making a wrong decision, he continues with confidence.

What were the qualities about him that you liked?

I liked the way he could change the game, that happened more times in u17 when I changed his position to central defender.

In the beginning he was confused because it was the first time for him to play central defender but I tried to explain to him that his characteristics are valuable if he will play in that position.

What are his best assets?

His left foot, 1vs1 defending, confidence.

What did you work on with him in the training ground?

We tried to create and improve some skills on his profile for left central defender, some specific skills for the central defender. It was a new position, defender body profile, direction control of the ball, drives, long passes, vertical passes in pockets, evaluating the danger in the penalty area, collaboration of the defending line - this kind of stuff.

What kind of character is he in the dressing room?

As i said before, he respects everyone, players and staff, generally the club he belongs, he is playing and fight first of all for his team and after that for himself.

Why did you decide to change his position from midfielder to defender?

I observed his left foot, his long pass, the vertical game, his ability to change the game, his aggressiveness. I had it in my mind that the club will need a left central defender more than a holding midfielder with these skills.

My worry was if i could inspire him on that. I trusted him from the start of the season, he was younger than the others, I saw that he was trying very hard. In my reports I remember writing that he was a top talent.

What is he like in the air?

He scored many goals the last season, every season he scored goals, he can score by long shots and headings. On the defending aerial duels, he use his body and evaluates his timing for a heading very well.

Have you been surprised by how well he has done in Germany?

I am not surprised by Konstantinos. I am expecting more from him in the future

Do you think he is ready to play in the Premier League one day?

In this case there is no answer, I think many reasons can be affect the career of one footballer, for now his pathway is very promising. His skills for central defender belongs in top level.

He has been linked with a move to Liverpool, is he ready for a step like that?

The end of the last summer he moved to Germany, in a very competitive Championship, his feedback on that is positive, as I explained a lot of circumstances can be different between two countries but one quality player with self confidence and hardworking [like Koulierakis] can play in every championship.

What do you think is his ceiling? How far can he go?

I have full belief that he will continue to make the people around him proud.

Do you have a favourite memory of him?

When I meet Konstantinos, he is smiling happy... that is enough.

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At Liverpool does he have the potential to replace Van Dijk? Do you see similarities between the two of them?

They have different characteristics, Konstantinos is left footed with vertical play, Van Dijk is unbeaten in aerial duels, Van Dijk is 12 years older than Konstantinos, he is more experienced, the only similarity from my side is the leadership and that their pathway started with an upward trend from the young age.

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