Neven Subotic hasn’t had the best of times at Borussia Dortmund since Jurgen Klopp’s departure, with injuries and a lack of playing opportunities plaguing his time at the Signal Iduna Park.
Neven Subotic has been strongly linked with Liverpool ever since the arrival of his former boss Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Suffering a lack of playing time under Thomas Tuchel and with injuries constantly playing spoil-sport, the defender looks primed to leave the Signal Iduna Park this summer after eight years at the club. Agent Freider Grahm claimed that his client is on the look-out for a new club at the moment as he forces a summer exit.
“Currently it does not look like he will get more game time in the upcoming season,” his agent told kicker. “But he absolutely wants to play, and does not want to earn his money on the bench.”
Grahm added in Der Westen,”We are currently scouting the market.”
Der Westen reported that several clubs are interested, but no concrete offer has been made yet. Subotic has in the past been linked with a reunion with Klopp at Liverpool, and the player has said in the past that he would be keen to play in the Premier League if he were to leave Dortmund.
Following the departure of Mats Hummels, Tuchel’s side have been linked with Hoffenheim’s Nicklas Sule to replace their Bayern bound center-back. Their interest elsewhere indicates that Subotic will play a peripheral role in Dortmund’s plans just like the last campaign where he only made 11 starts for the Bundesliga runners-up.
The Serbian defender moved to Mainz in the German Bundesliga in 2006 from University of South Florida and followed Klopp to Dortmund in 2008 and has stayed there at Westfalenstadion ever since. However with Subotic looking to break away his contract, expiring in 2018, in a search for a new club, there’s every chance he follow’s his boss to Anfield as well.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said the club would not block any move despite Subotic’s status as a fan favourite at the Westfalenstadion. Zorc told kicker,”We will treat Neven’s situation with the necessary and deserved respect.”
Will Subotic be a good fit in Liverpool’s back-line?
There aren’t too many players in that Dortmund line-up quite well informed about Klopp’s methods than Subotic is. The defender has played under the German boss for well over 9 years through two different clubs and will be aware of the importance defensive duties hold in Klopp’s system. At 27, the Serbian would still be a decent bet to protect a shaky Liverpool back-line and with the Serbian keen on reviving his career plagued by injuries, a reunion with Klopp cannot be ruled out.
Subotic averaged a staggering 9.4 clearances and 1.2 blocks per game during the 2012-13 season where he led his Dortmund side to the Champions’ League final. Playing close to 1331 forward passes at a success rate of 83.9% and keeping good possession while playing high up the field, Subotic established his ability to ply as a ball-playing center-back for Klopp’s side.
The Reds could use some multi-dimensional defenders to guard their back-line and with Subotic’s evident quality going forward, Liverpool could look to snap up the Serbian to add more experience to their line-up amidst Martin Skrtel’s departure this summer. Joel Matip was Klopp’s first defensive addition and the 27-year-old could well turn out to be the second should the Reds establish contact with the center-back this summer.
