Liverpool 'not guaranteed' to sign new centre back this summer

Liverpool may not sign a new centre-back this summer, with one report claiming the Reds are prepared to wait for the right player.

Jurgen Klopp already has five first-team centre-back options in Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Nat Phillips. However, concerns over fitness issues in the squad and the lack of a natural left-footed defender have led reports to suggest the Reds are looking to strengthen at the back, with Levi Colwill among those linked.

According to The Athletic, the Reds are exploring a move for a left-sided centre-back this summer, but it is "not a guarantee" that one will be bought.

It is suggested that after spending a combined £95m on the signings of Alexis Mac Alister and Domonic Szoboszlai – and with Romeo Lavia to follow soon — it is unlikely that Liverpool will spend big on a new defender as well.

The report claims that Liverpool are specifically looking for "a young centre-back, aged 23 or under, with the potential to develop."

Beside Colwill, few names have been reliably linked so far this summer.

The Athletic's report adds that if the right type of player is not readily available this window, Klopp will instead stick with what he has available and postpone the hunt until next year when Matip will be out of contract.

Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Greuther Furth on Monday was the latest example that a defensive signing could be on the mind of Klopp and the decision makers at Liverpool.

With both Van Dijk and Konate starting the first 45 minutes, the Reds seemed comfortable at the back, ending the half in a controlling 1-0 lead.

However in the second half, a back line including Matip at centre-back and Gomez at right-back gave the German side joy as they scored four times, with the game finishing 4-4.

While it is easy to read too much into pre-season games, the Reds have conceded six times already in two friendly outings, while their final Premier League fixture (vs Southampton back in May) also ended 4-4.

Matip has been a fan favourite at Liverpool over the years, but recent lacklustre performances have shown that the ex-Schalke defender may be nearing the twilight of his Anfield career, while Gomez has seldom reached the levels he achieved in the Reds' title-winning 2019/20 season.

It is clear that in the next 12 months, Liverpool will certainly need to start a defensive refresh. Whether that begins in this transfer window remains to be seen.