£12m Liverpool gamble could unearth PERFECT Andy Robertson successor

During Richard Hughes’ first press conference as the new sporting director of Liverpool, he mentioned the Olympics as one of the reasons transfer business might be a little slow during July.

"I think, naturally when there are major competitions during the summer, a World Cup, a European Championships, in this case, it is the Copa America and the Olympics as well, so there’s a lot of football being played and naturally the attention will be there."

That particular mention of the Olympics now makes more sense with the Reds being linked with a move for Julio Soler. The 19-year-old was part of Javier Mascherano’s Argentina squad at the Olympics. They were knocked out at the quarter-final stage against France on Friday. On Sunday, reports emerged online that the Lanus youngster was a target for the 2019/20 Premier League champions.

The timeline certainly tallies up.

Multiple reporters in Argentina with ties to Lanus have claimed a fee of £11.7million would be required to sign the left-back. The fact his current deal keeps him at La Fortaleza until December 2026 puts his club in a commanding position.

At a glance, it may seem like an odd move for Liverpool to make.

Soler hasn’t played much football at senior level, his stock has never been higher after a solid showing at the Olympics and the Reds have a number of young left-backs already at the club. If they do pull the trigger then they clearly believe there’s something there that they simply cannot miss out on. So much so that they’re prepared to pay the 'did well at a summer tournament' premium.

Perhaps they’re looking to draft in someone to replace Owen Beck. The 21-year-old, who was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year following his exploits with Dundee, is wanted by Celtic. He is also of interest to a handful of Championship teams with a permanent exit from Anfield on the cards.

Calum Scanlon, signed for £500,000 in December 2020, is believed to be heading out on loan while Luke Chambers is expected to return to Wigan for another season having impressed there last term.

Liverpool aren’t short of young talent at left-back. And yet they’re still seemingly interested in Soler.

So why might that be the case?

Finding a long-term heir to Andrew Robertson is the challenge. The 30-year-old hasn’t appeared in any pre-season games this season. He’s still recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in March despite appearing for Scotland at Euro 2024. This issue has plagued him for the best part of six months now and needs to be managed properly.

Even if he does recover, you have to assume all of the football he played under Jurgen Klopp is now beginning to catch up to him. He used to be bulletproof but over the past two seasons, he’s missed a lot of games. This combined with the fact his current deal expires in 2026 means that if he is staying, his minutes need to be managed over the next two years. And it gives someone like Soler two years to settle in without having to immediately step in and replace a Liverpool legend.

That adaption time could well be key for the young Argentine. Because while there’s a lot to like about him, he’s going to have to tweak his game to fit into Arne Slot’s Liverpool team.

For Lanus last season, Soler attempted just 33 passes. He did have a success rate of 86% though. His expected assists per 90 average was just 0.03 which is a bit of a worry, but this metric is tied to a player’s use within the team’s system. And the rest of his creative numbers are fairly positive. For example, 45% of his crosses find a teammate and he plays seven passes per 90 into the penalty area. With some refinement, these will turn into chances.

His 2.13 dribbles per 90, with a 77% success rate, are hugely positive too. When watching him, you can see why Liverpool might be keen. He’s a scrambler in possession, just like Robertson. There’s a touch of Conor Bradley about him too. He can escape pressure and that is something that should not be overlooked or taken for granted.

Soler creates space and time for teammates. He stretches play and forces the opposition to engage with him. He’s still really raw but there’s a lot to work with. The key elements are there. You want someone who can create openings with their braveness in possession, especially against low-block teams in the Premier League.

It is what Quilindschy Hartman did for Slot as Feyenoord left-back. He was much more heavily involved than Soler has been for Lanus, averaging 75 attempted passes per 90 with an 81% success rate. He also had an expected assists average of 0.24 last term. Better numbers, but if you watch him play, you can see the similarities between him and the 19-year-old Argentine.

Hartmann was confident and composed when under pressure. He could beat a man on the outside as well as the inside. He progressed play while in possession. Soler has those characteristics.

For £12m, he might be worth the gamble.