With an intriguing 2015/16 campaign for Liverpool now officially over, following their 3-1 defeat to Sevilla in last night’s Europa League final, the summer transfer window is starting to loom over Merseyside.
It looks set to be particularly a busy one for Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who is yet to get the chance to remodel the squad in his own image after succeeding Brendan Rodgers as Anfield boss back in October.
And one of the German gaffer’s first ports of call will almost certainly be to revolutionise Liverpool’s shaky defence, having conceded a whopping 50 times from their 38 Premier League fixtures this term.
In fact, Klopp has already suggested he’ll look to bolster his defensive options this summer, whilst Mamadou Sakho’s potentially lengthy suspension for using banned substances practically obliges him to.
With that in mind and the summer transfer window just around the corner, we’ve combined leading transfer targets and the club’s top defensive performers to create Liverpool’s dream defence for next season.
GOALKEEPER – MARC ANDRE TER STEGEN
Amid eternal doubts over Simon Mignolet’s dependability, Liverpool have been linked with potential goalkeeping successors continuously over the last few seasons. Loris Karius is the latest shot-stopper to reportedly find himself in the Reds’ transfer crosshairs but if we’re talking dream signings, it’s hard to look past Barcelona’s Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Despite being deemed one of the top young goalkeepers in world football, claiming the UEFA Save of the Season award last term, the German international has been reserved for Champions League and Copa del Rey action almost exclusively at the Nou Camp. Rated at around £20million, the 24-year-old could be a real coup – but Barcelona are determined not to sell.
RIGHT-BACK – NATHANIEL CLYNE
It’s been a decent if overall unspectacular debut Anfield campaign for Nathaniel Clyne. Indeed, the £12.5million signing hasn’t quite rekindled his Southampton form but there are mitigating circumstances to consider, particularly his shaky backline accomplices and the unexpected change in management. A well-rounded full-back with obvious talent, we could see the England international produce his best next season in a more stable defence.
CENTRE-BACK – SHKODRAN MUSTAFI
Despite failing to make the grade at former club Everton, Shkodran Mustafi is now revered as one of the most promising young defenders in world football, having been part of Germany’s World Cup winning squad in 2014 and more than held his own at the heart of Valencia’s defence for the last two seasons. The 6 foot centre-back is old-fashioned, rugged and aerially dominant and Liverpool’s backline is crying out for that style of no-nonsense defending. The Spanish press are fairly convinced the Reds have already held discussions to sign the 24-year-old, but recent reports have linked him with Barcelona.
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CENTRE-BACK – JOEL MATIP
Liverpool have already announced a deal for Joel Matip, who looks to be a real coup on a free transfer. The Cameroon international measures in at a lofty 6 foot 4 and is a fantastic athlete but also offers real quality on the ball – to the extent that he’s featured as a midfielder and even an emergency striker for FC Schalke. With Kolo Toure seemingly exit-bound and Mamadou Sakho facing a lengthy ban, the 24-year-old is certain to be a part of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans for next season.
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LEFT-BACK – JONAS HECTOR
Another Bundesliga-based defensive addition this summer could come in the form of left-back Jonas Hector, who has been linked with the Merseysiders repeatedly over the last few months. The 25-year-old has been in superb form this season, to the extent that he’s averaged the most created chances per match of any defender involved in Europe’s five leading top flights, and now looks set to feature prominently for Germany at Euro 2016. Considering how many goals Alberto Moreno has been culpable for this term, Hector represents a much-needed upgrade who should offer the Reds more at both ends of the pitch.
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