It looks like Jurgen Klopp has already set his mind on signing quality defenders for next season. The Mirror reports that the Reds are likely to make a move for experienced Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij from Lazio.
It is an open secret that Klopp is eyeing additions to his back four to make us more robust and secure. The Reds look so fluid in the attack but the problems at the back persist and they look porous at times.
Even during the game against Manchester City, the Reds were exposed at the back as they shipped in five goals. Although it was a tough task to play with ten men against a marauding Citizens’ attack, the glaring mistakes by the defenders were also partly responsible.
All through the summer, the Reds were behind another Dutch defender – Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk. Much has been said and written about the saga that there is nothing more to say except that Van Dijk didn’t end up at Anfield.
Does the De Vrij chase signal the end of Liverpool’s interest in Van Dijk? Hardly so because the report states that Klopp is interested in signing both the players, as Van Dijk is still on top of his priority list.
How practical is the chase of De Vrij? The 25-year-old has a contract with Lazio that runs out at the end of this season. He had his share of problems with injuries, as two knee injuries kept him out of action for a long period of time. However, there is no denying the fact that the Dutch international is a key player for Lazio when he plays.
The experienced defender is also on the radar of other Serie A clubs – notably Juventus and Inter Milan. Both sides are monitoring his situation at Lazio very closely as they do not want to miss out on the potential option of signing him for free.
In this era of crazy transfer fees, it is rare to see a player of the experience of De Vrij become available for free. Lazio may loathe this but he may leave for nothing next year. Could that be to Anfield? We’ll have to wait to see if it happens.
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