Liverpool exploring move for £30m “iron barrel” who’s just like Van Dijk

Milos Kerkez is edging towards a transfer from Bournemouth to Liverpool, with sporting director Richard Hughes discussing the ultimate particulars along with his successor within the Cherries switch seat.

This in itself is a incredible deal for Anfield, whose veteran left-back Andy Robertson is an “absolute legend” however one “hanging on in each recreation” for Arne Slot’s aspect this season, says pundit Jamie Carragher.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Actual Madrid on the finish of his Liverpool contract, it was additionally necessary for FSG to welcome a successor, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been picked as the person for the job, signed for £29.5m.

Additional change is afoot greater up the sector, however Liverpool have already proven a willingness to safe a brand new centre-back this summer season, pushing to signal Dean Huijsen earlier than he rejected a wealth of Premier League curiosity for Actual Madrid.

Why Liverpool want a defender

Virgil van Dijk is now a two-time Premier League winner, dominant and immense because the captain guided his crew via the marketing campaign with elite consistency.

It is good that Van Dijk signed a brand new deal on Merseyside, extending his keep for 2 extra years, however he turns 34 subsequent month and Liverpool have to discover a long-term inheritor.

That might have been Huijsen, who was hailed as “the proper left centre-back” by analyst Ben Mattinson after his marketing campaign on the south coast. Full in an age-belying vogue, the Spain worldwide, solely 20, would have secured Liverpool’s backline for years to return, had he joined.

And although FSG are massive on appearing upon distinctive market alternatives, they need to certainly recognise the necessity for a fallback. Ibrahima Konate arrived in 2021, and no first-team centre-back has since adopted him.

Konate, furthermore, is being courted by Los Blancos, who need to snap him up as a free agent subsequent summer season. Liverpool are presently locked in talks over a brand new cope with their French defender.

Given Jarell Quansah’s future can also be unsure, a Huijsen different to ease the burden on Van Dijk and co can be nice, and the Premier League champions have recognized the person for the job.

Liverpool start transfer for brand new CB

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have entered the race for Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae, with sources near the South Korean claiming he might be allowed to depart the Allianz Enviornment this summer season.

With the assorted events all in search of a swift decision, Bayern have diminished their asking worth from €50m (£44m) to about €35m (£30m), which might work nicely for the Reds given their want for reinforcements throughout a myriad of positions.

With Chelsea and Newcastle United additionally exploring a transfer, Liverpool can be clever to take their curiosity up a notch, able to pounce.

What Kim Min-Jae would convey to Liverpool

Kim has struggled to really hit his stride for Bayern, however definitely showcased his high quality as an elite-level central defender when within the Serie A with Napoli, heralded as an “iron barrel” of a participant by his former teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

In line with Luciano Spalletti, former Napoli boss, Kim has the minerals to turn out to be “the very best centre-back on this planet”, retaining 14 clear sheets from 35 matches because the Blues gained the Scudetto in 2022/23, a colossus in defending his aspect’s purpose.

A participant able to getting caught in and performing with a extra elegant contact, Kim’s is the prototypical fashionable profile, his power suggesting he would thrive within the rigorous Premier League.

Bayern signed the 28-year-old from Napoli in July 2023 after assembly his £43m launch clause, and although he is since recovered the Bundesliga from Leverkusen after lacking out in his debut time period, it hasn’t been the smoothest crusing for the left-sided defender, who made 4 direct errors resulting in a purpose this time period, as per Sofascore.

Nonetheless, such lapses have not prevented the £194k-per-week titan from producing in any other case spectacular performances, finishing 93% of his passes, averaging 5.7 ball recoveries per recreation and profitable 65% of his aerial battles.

His aerial dominance, crisp and progressive passing and left-sided berth recommend Kim may very well be the proper foil for Van Dijk, particularly when data-led website FBref recommend the 2 gamers bear a tactical likeness.

Securing a brand new centre-half who can ease Van Dijk’s defensive burden would not be a nasty factor, particularly with Liverpool decided to go one higher than this time period and compete for silverware throughout 4 totally different main fronts.

There’s clearly a likeness to the gamers, who each make use of assured passing video games however preserve inventive aptitude too. Furthermore, they’re persistent commanders of aerial visitors, directing whipped-in hazard away from the field.

If Liverpool want to maximise the time they’ve left with their legendary skipper, overloading him with minutes won’t truly be the very best observe to take. As an alternative, Van Dijk may thrive in an setting that permits him to step away from the motion with out sending Slot’s system right into a spin.

Kim’s similarities to the Dutchman would enable him to do precisely that, regarded up to now as ‘the South Korean Van Dijk.’

Given Quansah was used so sparingly this season, and certainly Konate’s future is unsure (as is his health, routinely lacking chunks of the marketing campaign), this may be the proper, inexpensive deal for an skilled and dynamic defender who may fill in for the captain or play alongside him.