[ad_1]
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has limited options available to him as he begins to prepare for life without key defender Virgil Van Dijk for several months.
The Holland captain’s ACL injury, which requires surgery, leaves the Reds boss with just two senior center-backs in Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
Klopp is likely to seek coverage within the team first, as was the plan at the start of the season after allowing Dejan Lovren to join Zenit St. Petersburg, before considering turning to the transfer market.
Here, we take a look at the options he has as Kop’s manager prepares for Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Ajax.
(Image: EMPICS Sport)
Current coverage
Klopp was happy to start defending his Premier League title with just three center-backs, and the backup plan was to leave midfielder Fabinho on defense.
That was put to the test earlier than expected when he had to line up the Brazilian international in a 2-0 win over Chelsea in his second game of the season, with Fabinho excelling in that game.
Klopp has also played with his utility man Georginio Wijnaldum in the last four, though not for any high-profile games.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Waiting in the wings
The obvious automatic replacement for coverage would be Nat Phillips, a 23-year-old who made his first-team debut in an FA Cup third-round win over Everton in January.
He was removed from a loan stint with Stuttgart for that match, returning to Germany almost immediately afterward to end the campaign with 22 appearances for the Bundesliga side.
After selling Ki-Jana Hoever to the Wolves in the summer, another youngster, Sepp Van Den Berg, rose through the ranks.
However, the 18-year-old, who has made four senior cup appearances, doesn’t seem ready for first-team football.
(Image: Getty Images)
Another teenager, 17-year-old Billy Koumetio, received rave reviews during the club’s preseason program and, although he was named to the Community Shield squad, an injury robbed him of the opportunity to participate in the Carabao Cup before the departure of the Liverpool. has not yet appeared in the first team.
Klopp wanted Koumetio to gain more experience with the U23s this season, but he has been training with the first team and the Reds coach said after the preseason: “I’m pretty sure he will make big strides. we really take care of their age group and physical demands. “
Transfer options
Klopp is not one to rush into the transfer market to immediately solve a problem, preferring to take a longer-term view as he did when they were initially unable to sign Van Dijk from Southampton.
Instead of going his second choice, Klopp resisted the Dutchman and was rewarded six months later. That long-term plan would have been in place to potentially sign a new center-back next summer, having spent money on beefing up his attack and midfield with Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara.
(Image: Getty Images)
RB Leipzig’s 21-year-old defender Dayot Upamecano, who reportedly has a £ 40m release clause active next summer, is a player who has already attracted the attention of many of Europe’s best clubs and without He would certainly be on Liverpool’s radar.
Brighton’s Ben White, 23, was on the roster a few months ago, but was not considered a priority, while bringing Wolves captain Conor Coady, newly established with England, back to the club was the former suggestion. Reds defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports Soccer Monday night.
[ad_2]
