Liverpool reportedly still hold an interest in Aissa Mandi, who could call it quits at Real Betis to become a free agent this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, Liverpool have not ceded their pursuit of Aissa Mandi ahead of the summer transfer window. The 29-year-old Algerian defender is touted to leave La Liga outfit Real Betis as a free agent following the end of the season.
Mandi joined Real Betis from Reims in the summer of 2016 and has since been a mainstay at the back for Los Verdiblancos. Till date, the Algerian international has amassed 167 appearances for the La Liga outfit, even managing to score 8 goals and provide 4 assists.
Betis, though, are in a precarious situation over the future of the 29-year-old, whose contract at the Benito Villamarin Stadium expires this coming summer, with progress over a renewal coming to a grinding halt. Such a situation has piqued the interest of Liverpool, among others.
Liverpool continue to be in desperate need to sign a centre-back come the summer transfer window as Ben Davies has struggled to settle in at Anfield, whereas there are no guarantees Ozan Kabak will be signed permanently once his loan deal expires, meaning they could be back to square one as far as their centre-back situation is concerned.
With Joel Matip struggling with a glut of fitness issues in the last couple of years, it is not hard to see why Liverpool are keeping their options open ahead of the summer. To that end, Mandi is a viable target for the reigning Premier League champions to pursue, with the Reds also having their sights set on another La Liga defender in Nacho.
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Apart from Nacho and Mandi, several other central defenders, including Kalidou Koulibaly, have also been linked with Liverpool. Mandi, though, is quite an appealing prospect due to the fact that the Merseyside giants will need to pay nothing in way of transfer fees to land him in the summer when he will have become a free agent.
With Liverpool still retaining their interest in Mandi, as per the report, it looks like the 29-year-old Algerian defender could well be on his way to Anfield. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the Reds can land him in the summer or if some other suitors emerge in his pursuit instead.
