Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip’s future is up in the air at the moment, but a fresh update has emerges that makes the situation look a little clearer.
The 32-year-old joined the Reds on a free transfer from Schalke back in the summer of 2016, and he has gone to become a true cult hero at the club.
Popular for his entertaining and unique personality, Matip has also excelled on the pitch, being a key part of Liverpool’s success down the years and making a total of 192 appearances for the club. Without injuries, that tally would be far greater.
That being said, the defender is now clearly behind Ibrahima Konate in the centre-back pecking order, and with age catching up with him, it is clear that he won’t be one of the first names on the team sheet moving forward.
Matip’s current Liverpool deal expires next summer, and according to Football Insider, he “could stay” beyond that date, assuming he is content with having a “back up role”.
Our thoughts on Matip’s Liverpool future…
This sounds like a fair compromise with Matip, should he want to sign an extension with the Reds beyond 2024, with the former Schalke man surely accepting that he is a squad player from now on.
At 32, his best days are behind him and more frequent poor performances have been thrown in in recent years – he had a nightmare away to Wolves last season, for example – and Konate represents a younger, more consistent option alongside Virgil van Dijk now.
Matip is still a good asset to have when he is fit and firing, however, as he has shown so far this season, filling in for the injured Konate and starting four Premier League matches.
In that time, he has shone in the wins at home to Aston Villa and West Ham, in particular, averaging 3.5 clearances and 2.5 aerial duel wins per game overall in the league, as well as having an 89.8% pass completion rate.
It could be that Matip wants a new challenge next year and leave Liverpool on a free transfer, and while that wouldn’t be a disaster for the Reds by any means, few would take major issue with him staying put, given his experience and knowledge of Liverpool as a club.
