£43m star now open to joining Liverpool

Rivals thought Liverpool would fall off a cliff when Jurgen Klopp packed up and left, however Arne Slot got here and chased their wistful goals proper again from the place they got here.

Solely 11 months after Klopp sang Slot’s identify, Carabao Cup trophy within the bag however not a lot else (except for qualification again into the Champions League after the distress of 2022/23), Anfield’s new Dutch boss returned the tune, having gained the Premier League and defied all expectations.

Slot’s confirmed himself, becoming a member of an unique membership of managers who gained the English high flight of their first yr, and now he is been entrusted to work with sporting director Richard Hughes and make sweeping modifications within the switch market.

Slot chased the doubters away, and with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz becoming a member of from Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez arriving quickly and a brand new centre-forward quickly to be focused, there’s a lot to be enthusiastic about for those who’re of a Liverpool persuasion.

In fact, some outgoings are taking place too, with the legend that’s Andy Robertson mooted for a departure within the coming months.

Liverpool’s left-back state of affairs

Robertson, 31, is getting into the ultimate yr of his £160k-per-week contract and sadly regarded a weak hyperlink beneath Slot’s wing. It is comprehensible: he is been run into the bottom throughout so a few years of tireless service.

With a deal agreed to signal Kerkez, Robertson goes to be relegated to the backbench, and so with Atletico Madrid circling, it could be that FSG reluctantly let their stalwart go.

Kerkez could be younger, however there isn’t any query that he is already reached a level of superiority over Liverpool’s veteran, whose athleticism and as soon as never-ending batteries have ebbed again over the previous yr.

If Robertson does go away, although, might Liverpool be promoting themselves brief? His back-up, Kostas Tsimikas, is on Leeds United’s radar, in any case. Liverpool would possibly want another star on the left facet of the backline, and the chosen goal may be essentially the most thrilling of the lot.

Liverpool contemplate one other left-back

In line with TEAMtalk, Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is fascinated by transferring to Liverpool regardless of the efforts of Arsenal, who successfully have the lead within the race proper now.

Hato, 19, has been a revelation in his homeland and has been priced at €50m (£43m), a valuation which Ajax are usually not prepared to scale back this summer time.

Additional stories declare that Chelsea are additionally within the body, and that Liverpool and the Blues have been knowledgeable by the participant’s camp that the race could be very a lot open at this stage.

What Jorrel Hato would deliver to Liverpool

Liverpool are stocking up properly with the 21-year-old Kerkez, aren’t they? So why does Slot need one other left-sided defender in Hato? Effectively, the younger Dutchman would supply that further little bit of depth on the flank, all of the whereas fostering qualities as a central defender too.

Expertise scout Jacek Kulig really hailed Hato as “one of the vital gifted centre-backs in Europe in his technology” only a few years in the past, throughout his formative section. However regardless of this, the Netherlands star has performed the previous yr of his skilled profession as principally a left-back, owing to his gasoline tank, tenacious perspective and dynamism, driving up and down the wing.

As per FBref, he ranked among the many high 9% of full-backs throughout Europe final season for go completion, the highest 14% for tackles and interceptions mixed and the highest 15% for ball recoveries per 90.

Spectacular stats, and helpful to shine a lightweight on the talent set that has seen a pure centre-half carry out with such aplomb in a large berth.

Hato and Kerkez are each rising defensive stars of immense potential, and selecting which one can be ‘higher’ beneath Slot’s wing is successfully splitting hairs, however we’re hair splitters over right here, and Ajax’s age-belying prospect is an absolute marvel.

Hailed for his “particular” skills by scout Phil Costa, so expert, so versatile, Hato might turn into among the best on the planet throughout a number of positions, and if that is not sufficient to ship frissons of pleasure via the Liverpool fanbase, what’s?

It is for that reason that he has been described as an “distinctive athlete” by analyst Ben Mattinson. When contemplating Hato’s high quality throughout not one however two positions that Liverpool must strengthen, you could possibly argue he is the extra thrilling man than Kerkez.

Definitely, there’s extra thrill concerned with {the teenager} than Robertson, who Jamie Carragher known as “an absolute legend” in January, however a defender who has been “hanging on in each sport.”

If, on the eleventh hour, Liverpool’s bid to signal Kerkez falls via, Hato would show a wonderful different; however, if all goes to plan and Hughes secures one other glorious signing for the title-winning Reds, including Hato to the combo would certainly full the set.