Liverpool preparing first bid to sign INCREDIBLE left-back

Liverpool have been aware of the need to address the left-back position for some time now, but Andy Robertson’s noticeable drop-off this season has accelerated that.

Robertson, to his credit, has more than earnt a grace period to prove himself still capable at the role. And whilst his form has gotten better as the season has moved on, Liverpool quite clearly know future-proofing the position is the correct idea.

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There has been significant interest in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez for this, and Anfield Watch exclusively reported that Liverpool started official talks for Kerkez back in November.

But it’s never good to be player-or-bust at a position of need (as Liverpool found out with their Martin Zubimendi affair back in the summer) and so other options are needed.

One that has been going around the rumour mill is Ajax’s Jorrel Hato.

And now a new report by CaughtOffside suggests that the Reds have been scouting Hato in recent matches and are preparing a transfer offer for the Dutch international this coming summer.

Unfortunately, so are Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.

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Hato is well sought after for good reason. At just 19 he is a dynamic, skilful left-back, and his 2.66 tackles and 1.33 interceptions put him in the 82nd and 87th percentile, respectively, for Europe’s top five leagues.

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But Liverpool should feel good about their chances here. They’re the only club out of the four reported who would be looking to start Hato right away, as well as coming off a Premier League-winning season.

Arsenal chose to sign Riccardo Calafiori last summer and the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly in the position surely eliminates the need to sign another young left-back.

Chelsea have one of the world’s best in Marc Cucurella in the position, having paid £55m for the 26-year old back in the summer of 2022.

Real Madrid usually play Ferland Mendy at the position, but Fran Garcia has emerged as a serious option there for Los Blancos this season too.

Only Liverpool have an aging left-back and a backup that may also be heading out of the door too.

The Reds are the logical option and should spare no expense. After all, if Hato is as good as he promises to be, that could be the position sorted for a decade.

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