Former Liverpool star Steve Nicol has urged the club to sign Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, who will be available for just £25 million in the summer.
In a recent interview, as reported by Daily Star, former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has advised the Merseyside outfit to make a move for Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium centre-half Toby Alderweireld in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool have had an excellent 2018-19 campaign as they stand a chance of winning their first English League title since 1990. Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently second in the league table, a point behind leaders and reigning champions Manchester City, with six games left to be played.
Liverpool’s defence has been key in their charge for the Premier League title, as they have conceded just 19 goals in 32 matches – the best defensive record in the competition. Virgil van Dijk has been exceptional for the Reds and has emerged as a strong contender to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
Along with the Dutchman, young English talent Joe Gomez had been brilliant in the first-half of the campaign, but has been out with an injury since December. This has meant Klopp has had to rely on Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip to partner Van Dijk in defence, both of whom haven’t always been the most reliable figures.
And in order to address that moving forward, ex-Liverpool defender Nicol has urged his former club to sign Alderweireld from Tottenham in the summer. The Belgian centre-half will be available for a cut-price £25 million after Spurs triggered a one-year extension option in his contract earlier in January.
And Nicol, who made over 400 appearances for Liverpool, believes that Alderweireld, who turned 30 last month, will add more quality to Liverpool’s defence and would be the ideal partner for Van Dijk, helping them to challenge for domestic and European honours on a consistent basis.
As quoted by Daily Star, Nicol said,” One hundred per cent this guy’s going. We just don’t know where it is. Again, this is a player who I think most teams in the world would want as their centre-back. I wouldn’t mind him at Liverpool alongside Van Dijk, I think that would be a great pairing.”
Alderweireld’s situation has seen him attract a lot of interest from a number of clubs across Europe, most notably from Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the Belgian and are reported to be eyeing a swoop for him in the summer transfer window.
Alderweireld has proven himself to be one of the best defenders in the Premier League and at a price of £25 million, he will be a bargain for any club that signs him. It remains to be seen though, if Liverpool heed Nicol’s advice and make a move for him in the summer.
