Liverpool FC – Three Full-Backs The Reds Should Target In The Summer

By Aakriti Mehrotra
10 years Ago

With the club looking to add quality to their squad next season, here is a look at three full backs Liverpool FCAi??should target in the summer

Liverpool FC have enjoyed a stellar season. The team which finished seventh last season has not only managed its first priority for the season- attaining the Champions League spot, but also managed to take the title race right down to the penultimate week. However, Liverpool would most definitely rue not having secured their first League title in 24 years when they had a clear advantage.

Liverpool’s successful campaign has had ‘attack attack attack’ written all over it. The club has had phenomenal attacking prowess with PFA Player Of The Year Luis Suarez partnering Daniel Sturridge upfront, and Phillipe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling also contributing with goals. While the Reds would still look to add possibly a centre midfielder and a left winger as additions are imperative to boost the depth and quality of the squad, what they most definitely need to address in the transfer window is the defence department. The blame of Liverpool not having the league sealed already has been placed on the defence. There have been a lot of instances this season where Liverpool have lost a lot of crucial points because of defensive lapses. The capitulation against Crystal Palace where Brendan Rodger’s side let Pulis’ side come back into the game by scoring three goals in the matter of twelve minutes and settle with a draw, illustrated something which was going wrong throughout the season. Jamie Carragher, the ex- Liverpool defender, fuming at Liverpool’s defensive display, summed it up in his postmortem of the match:

“Even when they have been winning games, it’s been 4-3, it’s 6-3, it’s 3-2 and we always felt that their defence would come back and haunt them with the goals they conceded. This was the night when that back four and the goals they conceded as a team defensively came back to haunt them.Ai??The strikers normally get them out of jail and at 3-2, Sturridge and Suarez nearly got them out of jail again, but you can’t keep conceding goals at this level and expect to win big trophies.”

Clearly the defence is one department which Rodgers and Co. would have to tackle in the summer. The future of Daniel Agger, who has been receded to the bench because of Mamadou Sakho, is unsure. It is not guaranteed whether the Danish captain would want to stay at a club where he will not be getting enough starts. Sakho has had some average performances, which can also be attributed to the fact that he spent a chunk of time on the sidelines with injury. The French international would surely get more accustomed to the league and do better- something regular Ligue 1 watchers saw. The ex-PSG player has given some really good performances for the club already. Liverpool will also have Tiago Ilori returning from a successful half-season loan from Granada. The summer signing has shown a lot of potential in some of his performances for the Spanish club. He would definitely feature more in Liverpool’s four competitions next season.

The ‘full back’ spots are actually a bigger problem for the club. Jose Enrique, club’s first choice left back has been injured since November. Liverpool had Jon Flanagan rise to the occasion and do a terrific job making the left back spot his own. But with the club needing a lot more quality within their ranks to make a successful challenge in the league and the Champions League next season , they would consider getting an upgrade on the home grown Flanagan.

Glen Johnson, Liverpool’s first choice right back has had a poor season. The England international has been nowhere near his peak levels.Ai??On top form, Johnson is one of the best full-backs in the Premier League, providing width, pace and creativity from the flanks, but this form has eluded him this season. Liverpool definitely need to address this issue next season.

Here are three full backs who the club should target

Alberto Moreno, Sevilla

It has been reported thatAi??Liverpool are prepared to splash out cash to land Sevilla’s talented left back Alberto Moreno. Moreno, enjoying a successful season, has been a subject of target from a host of clubs including Real Madrid.Ai??Madrid media had reported that he looked very likely to replace Fabio Coentrao at the club but his agent rubbished the rumors. The Reds have been interested in the player for a while and the Sevilla president suggested through his comments, that the Spanish side would be willing to let go of the player if they received a good sum.

“Last Decemeber we rejected an important offer from a Premier League side for Alberto Moreno. There are many clubs tracking him weekly.Ai??In December we understood that it was not the right moment to sell him. But if we received a very good offer for him we will consider his exit. I believe that he is young and he is going to have a very successful career. And I hope he stays at Sevilla but if we received an amazing offer he will leave.”

The 21 year old has featured heavily for the Spanish side this season notching up as many as 44 appearances in all competitions managing three goals and two assists in the process. He is the perfect epitome of a modern full back- while not failing at his primary defensive duties,Ai??he enjoys running at the opposition, committing defenders and delivering the crosses.

The left-back has a A?25m release clause in his contract but reports have suggested that suitors of the players couldAi??start the negotiations with at leastAi??A?15 millionAi??to get the Sevilla hierarchy interested in considering the departure of the player. Moreno would fit perfectly into Liverpool’s preferred eleven. The prospect of joining a club which would offer Champions League next season and has also done tremendously well in the league this season would also be exciting for the player.

Fabio Coentrao, Real Madrid

There have been reports that Liverpool were in ‘advanced talks to sign the Portuguese international from Real Madrid’. It was also reported that the Reds had made contact with the player’s agentAi??Jorge Mendes and were in pole position to land the player beating rivals Manchester City and French club Monaco.

The 26 year old started his career as a left winger with Rio Ave and earned a lot of comparisons to Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben before he made a move to Benfica in 2007. He didn’t make a considerable mark in the attacking position and gradually shifted gears and switched to the left back role. He did terrifically well in that position and caught the attention of Jose Mourinho’s Madrid. The ai??i??30m spent on him made him one of the costliest defenders.

Coentrao has been on the bench for a lot of time this season because of Marcelo’s good form and consistency (Co-incidentally, Liverpool have also been linked to Marcelo). He has featured just nine times for Los BlancosAi??this season in the league.Ai??Perhaps anticipating his plight this season, the Portuguese international requested for a move away from the Spanish club in the summer window itself and Ancelotti confirmed it then ‘”Coentrao has asked to leave the club”

Coentrao is a player who brings a lot of versatility with him as he is capable of playing in a number of positions. Not failing defensively, the 26 year old is not scared of going forward and contributing to the attack of the team. If Liverpool get the left back, they would not have to worry too much about the left winger spot as Coentrao would do well as a wing back for the Reds.Ai??His reported price isAi??Ai??A?11.5 million which seems like a reasonable amount to start negotiations regarding a player of his quality.

Martin Montoya, BarcelonaAi??

The 22 year old Barcelona right back has been linked with a move to Liverpool for about a year now.Ai??His initial contract was set to expire this summer and Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan were among the clubs who tried and failed to sign him on a free transfer.Ai??He recently renewed his contract with the Camp Nou side which keeps him at Camp Nou till 2018. Reports have again emerged of clubs targeting him still and not being deterred by the contract extension. Bayern Munich are the club seriously interested in roping in the defender. Links to Liverpool have also not faded completely.

The talented Spaniard’s preferred spot is that of aAi??right-back, but he can also play on the wing and as a left-back. Like Moreno, Montoya is basically a very good full back-Ai??He is absolutely outstanding in defence and can also contribute significantly in attack by covering great distances on the right flank. He possesses all the right ingredients for the spot- pace, energy and great crossing ability. He is also very accurate with his passing. The player also has a great work rate, something which Liverpool players boast of. He is behind Dani Alves in contention for the starting squad, but Montoya has impressed every time he has stepped on the pitch. Another advantage he brings is the surety of him also doing well in the left back spot as he has done whenever used as an emergency left-back in the absence of Jordi Alba or Adriano.

Montoya has the right attributes to fit in well at Liverpool. He can directly be employed in the starting 11 and is good enough to take Glen Johnson’s starting spot. The 23-year-old is valued at around A?10m and Liverpool too, should not be deterred by his contract extension and be willing to spend up to A?15 million to rope in the player.

Categories: English Premier League, Features, Liverpool FC
Tags: Alberto Moreno Fabio Coentrao Liverpool FC martin montoya

With the club looking to add quality to their squad next season, here is a look at three full backs Liverpool FCAi??should target in the summer

Here are three full backs who the club should target

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