The Liverpool team still has time to make a defensive acquisition before the transfer window closes… Although Jurgen Klopp’s team appears to be searching for new players before the deadline tomorrow evening, with a defensive ace in mind, Liverpool has left their final business of the summer late. After six midfielders left the club in various circumstances following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, a term that did not produce results for the Anfield team, the centre has been the team’s first priority throughout the summer. But the Premier League heavyweights also need to upgrade their backline, and sporting director Jorg Schmadkte may be ready to close the window by signing Arthur Theate, a left-sided central defender. What has changed since Arthur Theate’s trip to Liverpool? Arthur Theate, a left-footed center-back who is also drawing interest from Fulham, reportedly has a price tag of €35 million (£30 million), according to reports from the French publication L’Equipe earlier in August. The failure of German club RB Leipzig to sign the Frenchman will give the Reds more confidence. Marco Rose’s team gave up their chase after failing to reach an agreement on transfer conditions. Intriguingly, L’Equipe reports that Rennes is keeping tabs on Liverpool defender Joel Matip as a potential successor for Theate. Klopp and Schmadtke could now take advantage of this connection to bolster their backline. Since joining Liverpool on a free transfer from Schalke in 2016, Matip has established himself as a mainstay for the team, making 188 games and taking home 188 pieces of hardware under Klopp’s guidance. The 31-year-old Cameroonian, who is in the final year of his contract, lost his spot in Liverpool’s starting lineup towards the end of the 2022–23 season, just as the English team was going through a strong stretch to try to save their season. According to FBref, the player who earns £100k per week continues to perform admirably across a number of metrics. He ranks among the top 5% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 over the past year. Theate would be Klopp’s ideal replacement, ranking among the top 10% of centre backs for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, and the top 15% for progressive carries per 90. There is undoubtedly a fundamental similarity between them in terms of their skill. Journalist Sacha Tavolieri praised the 23-year-old’s “remarkable” skill set, and if Liverpool were to sign him, it might turn out to be a deal that benefits all parties: Rennes would acquire a renowned defender in Matip for a reasonable price, and Liverpool would secure an ace who would guarantee himself a starting position on Merseyside for years to come....
Klopp
Joel Matip and Joe Gomez will now start at the same position for Liverpool against Aston Villa on Sunday, according to manager Jurgen Klopp. All eyes are on incomings and outgoings at this point in the transfer window. Before the deadline at Anfield tomorrow evening, there might still be a plenty of both. Ryan Gravenberch is a midfielder at Bayern Munich, and Liverpool will make a strong effort to get him so Jurgen Klopp has another option. In that aspect, his roster has been completely depleted from last season, and he has needed the entire summer to find his ideal replacements. Mohamed Salah’s future will also be the focus of attention, as Al-Ittihad is frantically trying to sign the Egyptian. Klopp must make some significant decisions on the pitch. Darwin Nunez’s two goals from the bench will undoubtedly have given his boss pause. Since Klopp has fewer choices at center-back, he’ll probably start Joel Matip alongside Joe Gomez. Prior to Sunday’s game, he was forced to make a decision due to Virgil van Dijk’s suspension and Ibrahima Konate’s readiness. Matip and Gomez will begin against Villa. According to a report from the Liverpool Echo, Matip participated in a practise on Wednesday at Liverpool’s practise facility. They continue by saying that he’s ‘almost certain’ to play alongside Joe Gomez, who stood out against Newcastle. Liverpool may have considered adding to its squad at center-back this summer....
