Liverpool could reportedly switch their attention back to Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs as they look to bring in a left-footed defender after landing defensive midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool could step up efforts to sign Torino defender Perr Schuurs as they look to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool’s sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, has prioritised the reconstruction of the club’s midfield over the past few months. The Merseyside giants have spent over £110 million to bolster their midfield with the additions of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo.
But following the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, as well as their failure to land top targets Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, Liverpool remain in the market for one more young defensive midfielder, with Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure understood to be the Reds’ No. 1 target.
Liverpool are still looking to bolster other areas of the squad, though. Jurgen Klopp is understood to be keen to sign an up-and-coming centre-back who can compete with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate and fortify the defence. But they are yet to make a concrete movement on that front.
The Reds had previously considered a move for Micky van de Ven. But Tottenham ultimately won the race for his signature, while another top target, Goncalo Inacio, has signed a new deal with Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.
The Merseysiders are assessing potential defender signing options, and former Ajax prospect Perr Schuurs could soon be back on Liverpool’s radar. Schuurs went on trial at Anfield as a 17-year-old, but Liverpool opted not to sign the then-teenager.
They have been keeping tabs on the player ever since. He moved to Torino last summer and has continued his upward trajectory in Serie A, scoring one goal and providing two assists in 33 games in his debut season. But links with Liverpool have resurfaced this summer as Klopp seeks to bolster his backline.
The 23-year-old is considered a realistic target ahead of the transfer deadline and fits the bill. The 6ft 3in defender remains under contract with Torino until 2026 with the option of an additional 12 months. And the Italian club have slapped a £30 million price tag on his head.
Should a Premier League club come forward with the right bid, Torino are unlikely to stand in the player’s way of a summer exit, making him a feasible candidate for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Virgil van Dijk is a huge fan of Schuurs’s talent and could form a rock-solid new central defensive duo.
If the Dutchman were to sign, van Dijk could shift over onto his preferred right side, and Klopp could finally get his hands on the left-footed central defender he covets to improve the fluidity, passing angles, and cohesion of his side.
Also Read: Liverpool handed harsh transfer lesson amid Moises Caicedo – Romeo Lavia fiasco
Equally, Schuurs’s could also serve as van Dijk’s future replacement, given that the Liverpool captain has failed to exude the same level of imperious superiority that he has been reckoned with so often prior to last season. Joel Matip is also out of contract at the end of next season, so the deal makes a lot of sense from a Liverpool perspective.
