Stan Collymore believes Liverpool needs a new partner for Virgil van Dijk in defence, and also quality cover for the Dutchman.
Liverpool have had a disastrous season by all accounts, and their loss at the hands of PSG in the Champions League ends the final hope of silverware. The Merseysiders went from Premier League champions to now fighting for a top-five place, which is not yet guaranteed.
There are fingers pointed in all directions, especially at the club’s failure to land Marc Guehi last summer. The defender was once again in the media’s sights during the January window, linked to Liverpool, but he eventually chose to join Manchester City instead.
Liverpool are expected to ramp up their efforts to land a new defender in some capacity in the summer, although they have already agreed a deal for Rennes star Jeremy Jacquet. However, there is a clear need for a senior defender with far more experience than the young Frenchman, as adding one would drastically improve depth.
Stan Collymore has now urged Liverpool to get rid of Ibrahima Konate and find the right partner for veteran Virgil van Dijk ahead of next season. His comments, which appeared on Team Talk, also stated that Liverpool needed quality cover for the Dutchman, as he suggested that, at his age, Van Dijk may not be able to deliver top performances consistently.
Collymore said, “The thing with Virgil van Dijk is that, in my view, he still has the quality, but you can’t expect someone in their mid-thirties to be gliding around like a Rolls-Royce the way he did at 26. His reading of the game remains strong enough for him to play for another season or two, so I’d be surprised if he moved on this summer.”
“One of the big questions, though, is who partners Van Dijk. Ibrahima Konaté is too hit-and-miss, while Joe Gomez feels more like a squad option than a nailed-on starter. The club will be kicking themselves watching Marc Guehi join Manchester City and score a brilliant goal at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.”
According to recent reports, Liverpool have agreed a new deal with Konate, which is likely yet to be signed, as they have managed to retain a senior defender. As for Gomez, he is someone who could be expendable ahead of the summer, as Liverpool must bring in quality cover for Van Dijk, amid links to Alessandro Bastoni.
They also had links to Nico Schlotterbeck, although the German international has recently signed a new deal with Borussia Dortmund. However, a reported release clause in his contract could still allow clubs like Liverpool to make a move in the summer.
As for the other side of the backline, there are links to Marcos Senesi, among others, as signing the soon-to-be free agent would make plenty of sense given his experience in the game and his displays for Bournemouth this season.
