Liverpool ready to accept £15m offer for defender Joel Matip
According to Football Insider (h/t Liverpool Echo), the Reds are ready to accept an offer for centre-back Joel Matip in the upcoming summer transfer window. According to the same report, the Merseysiders value the 31-year-old Cameroonian at about £15m and would accept an offer around the same mark.
Matip, even though extremely injury-prone in his early days at the Reds, found his feet with the club and last season, was at times even better than his defensive partner, Virgil van Dijk. His aerial presence, strength, and ability to read the game made him an important part of the defence that helped Liverpool win the Champions League and Premier League titles in consecutive seasons.
However, this season has been a different story, as Matip has struggled to maintain his high standards, leading to speculation about his future at the club. Moreover, the Reds’ links with Josko Gvardiol have added to the conjecture of Matip being on his way out of Merseyside.
Matip joined Liverpool in 2016 from German club Schalke and quickly established himself as a key player in the team but his injury issues saw him move in and out of the playing XI for an extremely long time.
Could Matip move?
In August, the centre-back will turn 32 and he will also enter the final year of his contract which lasts until 2024 (Transfermarkt). Given the age factor and also his history with injury, one cannot argue over the fact that it could be a wise decision in moving on from the player.
Despite his recent dip in form, Matip remains a talented defender and could still prove to be a valuable asset for another team. The £15 million offer for him may be tempting for Liverpool, especially considering his age and injury history as mentioned before. Moreover, the club could use the funds from Matip’s sale to acquire a new player, such as Gvardiol, to fill the void.
It’s always difficult to see a player who has been such a key figure for a club move on, but in the cut-throat world of football, tough decisions sometimes are the need of the hour.
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However, it would be ideal only if the Reds decide to get on board Gvardiol that Matip moves. Or else, Liverpool will be left with egg on their faces if Matip and the Croatian both end up not at Merseyside. Whether this is the best move for the club remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Matip’s drop-off in quality this season has played a role in the decision.
