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Five Summer Centre Back Targets

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SV Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund - BundesligaWith an attack that would grace any team in world football and a defence that would struggle against League One opposition, Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers should be under no illusions when it comes to strengthening in the summer.

A back up striker for the SAS is needed, with extra games next season in the form of Champions League football, while a defensive and attacking midfielder wouldn’t go amiss to provide competition for the ageing Steven Gerrard, Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson.

Yet the most important area to address is at the heart of the defence.

Martin Skrtel has had an excellent campaign, albeit with a few slip ups and with a tendency to swap shirts with opponents before the end of the game (the penalty at Anfield against Swansea comes to mind), but will be 30 next season.

Daniel Agger will also turn 30 in December and has been in and out of the team with injury concerns, despite being vice-captain.

Mamadou Sakho, despite an inconsistent start to life at Anfield, has only just arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in a big money move and has had to play at left-back at times, such as in the defeat to Southampton. Sakho has also had some injuries to contend with, but will be a Liverpool player next season. For Agger and Skrtel, life is less certain.

Sebastian Coates and Kolo Toure will probably both be sold, yet that will generate little in funds and with Tiago Ilori set to return from loan, having arrived this season from Sporting Lisbon, he would likely become the young alternative at centre-half for Liverpool – the 4th choice. Sakho is likely to be one of the top two at the club next season, with one of Skrtel and Agger filling the 3rd position.

Agger should be the one to leave, with Barcelona still maintaining an interest as they look for a couple of defenders to replace Carlos Puyol. Liverpool could still manage to get £12-15m for the Dane, but this would be the last season where that would be possible as age will quickly depreciate his value, especially if he picks up more injuries.

Therefore, with Agger, Toure and Coates leaving and Sakho, Skrtel and Ilori staying, Liverpool need one top quality centre back to prepare for a season back in the Champions League. Four centre backs should be enough, with the likes of Martin Kelly able to play there in times of emergency. Who knows, maybe Steven Gerrard will be there in a year’s time?

A defender who could become world class at Anfield is required, but there are not too many of those around, especially at a reasonable price as all the big clubs want the next Vincent Kompany or Thiago Silva. Here are five potential players that could fit the bill:

1. Ezequiel Garay
At age 27, Garay is at the peak of his footballing career, demonstrated through the success he is enjoying at Benfica. The Portuguese giants have only conceded 15 goals in 23 games this season in their domestic league and lead the table by seven points.

Recently refusing to join Zenit St Petersburg, Garay has been heavily linked with Manchester United for over a year, yet no move has transpired.

With his contract running out in the summer of 2015, his price is likely to be around £15m. Liverpool have the chance not only to steal a top target off their fierce rivals, but also acquire a player with significant aerial prowess and technical ability on the ball, representing an excellent addition to the back line.

2. Medhi Benatia
Another player linked with United, but also Arsenal, Barcelona and Tottenham, Benatia has been one of the cornerstones to Roma’s charge for a Champions League place under Rudi Garcia, having finished 6th in the previous season.

At 26, Benatia is in a similar predicament to Garay – at a top club who are doing very well in their league and with the chance to join the biggest clubs in Europe.

He has been an ever-present for the Italian side, but would likely cost £20m given the amount of interest and Roma’s likely Champions League status next season. However, the Moroccan would be worth it.

3. Jan Vertonghen
Someone closer to home, Jan Vertonghen was one of the best defenders in the Premier League for Tottenham last season when he arrived from Ajax.

This season has been more of a struggle however, with a disillusioned Vertonghen warning his London employers that he would seriously consider moving if Spurs failed to make the top four this season.

With that looking increasingly likely, Tottenham fans will be worried that he and Hugo Lloris will be off in the summer. Lloris is likely to join P.S.G though, whereas Vertonghen has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester City, two rivals that Tottenham would dislike selling to, as it would dent their top four hopes for next season whilst subsequently boosting their rivals.

Liverpool were linked with the Belgian when he was at Ajax and again should be in his prime at 26. On the other hand, despite his inconsistent form this season, as a domestic rival Liverpool would probably have to stump up £20m for Vertonghen, which may lead Rodgers to pursue alternative targets elsewhere.

4. Mats Hummels
Entering a higher bracket of defenders, Mats Hummels has been operating on a world class level for a few years now under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund.

Despite suffering a few lapses this season, he is still one of the best centre backs in world football at a club which, despite reaching last season’s Champions League final, does not possess a superpower reputation. Dortmund have already lost Mario Gotze, are set to lose Robert Lewandowski and could lose Ilkay Gundogan and even their manager in the future, as bigger clubs constantly circle around, such as Bayern Munich.

David Moyes has yet again been linked as he looks for an entire new defence, yet the German will only move to a Champions League club. Soon Liverpool will possess that status and Hummels could become Liverpool’s Kompany, although at a steep price, probably between £30-40m.

5. Eliaquim Mangala
Arguably the most highly rated young centre back in world football, the 23 year old Frenchman has been one of the stars in the declining FC Porto team, with the defending champions 12 points behind Benfica in 3rd.

Having been close to joining Manchester City on the January deadline day, Mangala is rated between £35-40m as most of the world’s top clubs have him on their shortlist.

Real Madrid want to partner him alongside the world’s other top young centre back in Raphael Varane, Barcelona want him to replace Puyol, P.S.G are inevitably linked as they are linked with everyone, Manchester City want a partner for Kompany, Chelsea want a long term replacement for John Terry and David Moyes needs a whole defence.

Mangala would be by far the hardest player on this list for Liverpool to buy, simply with the sheer amount of interest from other clubs, yet Liverpool would lose nothing by throwing their name into the hat.

It would be easier to attract Mangala if Liverpool were Premier League champions, so there’s another good reason to end 24 years of hurt.

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5 comments

  • roythered says:

    FSG will not spend £15-20 million on 27-28 year old center backs, they will not be able to
    compete for the younger players, with the big money clubs throwing their hats in. Fantasy
    football’s a wonderful thing, but just fantasy.

    • Tyler Andrews says:

      FSG will not spend big money on experienced players, there’s no sell on value for the high prices their purchases demand.
      FSG will buy top quality young players thanks to the scouting network that found Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta for Man City and Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge for Liverpool.
      Have faith in the club, within all aspects of this. Liverpool won’t spend too much money and get back into the position it was only a few years ago.

  • stevie says:

    Get steven caulker. If anybody can improve him it’s rodgers. Savvy shopping not predictable shopping at a stupid price with money the club doesn’t have

    • Tyler Andrews says:

      Exactly, Brendan Rodgers has proven he can get the best out of even the youngest players in his squad. I have faith that with a good scouting network and a good coaching policy we can have the next big things playing for Liverpool.

  • Julian says:

    I agree we will not spend big and blow budget. But good scouting and players who have vulnerable positions eg no CL or have dropped from higher league would be available. My preferences Caulker Vertonghen and Lovren. All three have prem league experience. One from those or two if we get Caulker. Sell Toure Coates Agger to make room. Bring Llori and Wisdom back to get experience with squad for early season. I think Kelly knee injury may still be a problem as he is not even playing at the club in any of teams. Worried his career may be over.

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