Barcelona could STILL sign a Jürgen Klopp favourite

Barcelona could explore deals for multiple free agents, including former Liverpool icon Joel Matip, now that the transfer window has closed.

According to Todo Fichajes, Barca could still be looking for defensive reinforcements and must turn to the free agent market where they have identified Joel Matip as a target.

Matip is yet to find a team after leaving Liverpool this summer when his contract expired, however a number of clubs from across Europe have been linked with the veteran defender including Bayer Leverkusen.

Matip signed for Liverpool as a free agent in 2016 and went on to make 201 appearances for the Reds, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup as well as a number of other honours.

READ MORE: How Liverpool made over £63 million this summer 

Why is Matip yet to find a club?

Although the former-Cameroonian international would offer a lot of experience to any team, his last season with Liverpool was cut short at the start of December when the 33-year-old suffered a cruciate ligament tear.

The defender hasn’t played a single minute of football in 2024 and his current injury condition is unknown. This could be what has so far put clubs off snapping up the former Anfield icon.

When it was announced that Matip would be leaving the club, former manager Jürgen Klopp described Matip as “a wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being” to the club website.

Matip has been the subject of lots of interest, including from Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton, and Barca could be the club to finally pull the trigger and sign the experienced defender.

How do Liverpool look without Matip?

Liverpool’s defensive unit has been confirmed for this season now that the window is closed and there weren’t any new additions.

Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konaté are expected to share most of the minutes this season, with Joe Gomez remaining at the club to provide back up when needed.

Although it was reported throughout the window that Liverpool were targeting a central defender, an obvious top target never emerged like it did with Martín Zubimendi in the holding midfield role.

Some reports are now suggesting that Liverpool will continue to monitor Marc Guehi who stayed at Crystal Palace this summer despite heavy interest from Newcastle United. Liverpool are supposedly targeting a 2025 move for the England international.