Liverpool might be on top of the Premier League but they still haven’t kept more than one clean sheet all season. While the Reds seem to stick with Loris Karius between the sticks, there are rumblings that the Merseyside club could be searching the market for a new defender in the January transfer window and according to RMC Sport (via Tuttomercatoweb) it is PSG star Presnel Kimpembe.
The French defender – Mamadou Sakho – has fallen out of favour at the club and his transgressions certainly have not made it easy for Jurgen Klopp to include him in the first team. Sakho has also seen his position being taken over by Joel Matip and the pairing of Matip and Dejan Lovren is what the German manager of the club prefers.
The Reds will need to bring in someone to deal with the loss of Sakho and it could be another French defender making his way to the club. Presnel Kimpembe also plays for the same club as Sakho used to, Paris Saint-Germain, and he is touted as the next big thing in French football.
The 21-year-old made a name for himself last season when he played nine games in total but this season has seen his rise and he has played eight games in all this season. There were a lot of rumours doing the rounds that the defender could be out of his club as his contract ran up to only 2018.
He was even dropped from the team in a recent game against Toulouse but his coach stated it was due to tactical reasons.
Unai Emery was quoted by RMC sport as saying:
“I’m glad to have Presnel Kimpembe. When David Luiz left, we decided to make him number three in central defence. When on the bench, replacements often involve offensive players, although sometimes you need defenders. So I chose from time to time not to take him as a substitute.
“But if they tell me tomorrow that Thiago Silva or Marquinhos is not ready, Kimpembe will play. He knows it. The club never asked me not to include a layer. If they are not [on the bench] this is just a tactical choice.”
New contract for Presnel
All these rumours have been laid to waste as the defender is set to sign a new contract with improved conditions at PSG. The same French outlet have stated that Presnel could end up earning as much as £174,000, which would be a humongous rise compared to his earlier wage.
The 21-year-old was holding out for a good deal and it seems that it will work out for him in the end. Liverpool might not be willing to match this crazy amount that is being provided to Presnel and the deal does seem to be in the air.
The Reds might have to look at their academy or even playing with Lucas Leiva should Sakho leave. They have also been linked with a move for Niklas Sule, who would be a better and cheaper signing than Kimpembe. The Reds have the cash but they need to spend it wisely.
