Liverpool add €60m-rated Bundesliga star to summer shopping list

Liverpool and Arsenal have got Eintracht Frankfurt centre back Willian Pacho on their shopping lists ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report in Germany. 

The Reds are in need of defensive reinforcements this summer. A young, left-sided defender has been on the agenda for some time, while contract situation of the currently-injured Joel Matip and question marks over the fitness of Ibrahima Konate add to the case for more recruits.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has turned to impressive academy graduate Jarell Quansah on many occasions alongside Virgil van Dijk this season. However, it is clear that regardless of who the new manager is, defensive recruitment will be a transfer market priority in the windows ahead. 

Anfield Watch has reported on the Reds' interest in Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Sporting CP pair Ousmane Diomande and Goncalo Inacio.

According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, 22-year-old Pacho is now also emerging as an option. 

The nine-time Ecuador international has been a star in the Bundesliga this season for his Frankfurt side, missing only one match and being a dependable presence at the heart of Dino Toppmoller’s defence. 

The elegant left-sided central defender has only been with Frankfurt since last summer having moved from Royal Antwerp as a Belgian league and cup champion. 

Emerging star Pacho already a double league champion

He first emerged as a youth team player at Independiente del Valle, the same club that produced Moises Caicedo and Hincapie, winning a first-ever Ecuadorian league title for the club in 2021. 

Pacho was then scouted by Antwerp, signing in January 2022, and winning the double last season, usually playing in a central defensive partnership with Toby Alderweireld. 

The fee which took the defender to Frankfurt was reported to be an initial €9m but the German side have set a far higher asking price for interested parties this summer. 

With a contract extending until 2028, Frankfurt’s investment is well protected and they will look for €60m (£51m) this summer, according to Plettenberg.