Liverpool are believed to have made contact with AC Milan over the signing of centre-back Fikayo Tomori this summer, as they look to bolster their defence.
A new central defender is a must for the Reds before next season gets underway, with Ibrahima Konate departing to Real Madrid and Joe Gomez out injured yet again.
A proven top-level centre-back would be ideal, in order to give Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni time to develop, and it looks as though Tomori could be that man.
According to TuttoJuve [via Sport Witness], Liverpool have contacted Milan over the availability of the 28-year-old, with a formal offer now being weighed up.
That said, it is claimed that Milan are willing to hold firm and keep hold of the Englishman, even though he only has one more year remaining on his current deal.
Is Fikayo Tomori Liverpool’s defensive solution?
Tomori has now proven himself at a high level for many years, more than holding his own at a genuine European giant, and once reacting to praise that came his way from Milan legend Paolo Maldini:
“Paolo is such a huge figure, not just in Milan. So for him to give it to me and to say those things – on top of me having 100 appearances for Milan – is a moment I will always treasure.”
Tomori is exactly what Liverpool should be looking for in terms of age, sitting right in his peak years, and he has some Premier League experience from his Chelsea days, which can only be a good thing.
He started 31 out of 38 Serie A matches last season, averaging three clearances and two tackles per match, while Joe Cole has had this to say about him in the past:
“He has taken a massive gamble going there, there’s no better place to learn your trade. That club is steeped in it, [Franco] Baresi, [Alessandro] Costacurta, [Cesare and Paulo] Maldini, their ghosts are going to echo through that club and there will be people at the club from that era and there will be pearls of wisdom he has picked up. The Italians are the masters of defending. He has gone there and been outstanding. He is coming back with a point to prove.”
It remains to be seen if Tomori ends up being Liverpool’s centre-back of choice, but whatever happens, a new face must come in there before the summer transfer window slams shut.
