Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp admits it will be a difficult task for the club to secure a top-quality center-back following Joel Matip’s season-ending knee injury. Matip suffered an ACL rupture in Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Fulham and is set to undergo surgery before embarking on a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The Reds currently have Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and young Jarell Quansah as their four available center-back options. However, Gomez has been deployed as a full-back on both sides due to the need for Trent Alexander-Arnold to feature in midfield and Andy Robertson’s prolonged shoulder injury.
According to 90min, Liverpool is exploring their options to ensure they have adequate cover in the midst of their battle for the Premier League title. However, Klopp was realistic in his assessment, acknowledging the difficulty of signing a player of sufficient quality midseason.
“In eight years here, I just never understand this. You always talk about transfers as if they would be the easiest thing in the world,” Klopp said. “Just bring in a player, find the money for it, as if we have endless money. I really don’t understand it.”
Klopp emphasized the importance of finding the right player and expressed skepticism about the ease of acquiring a top center-back who is capable of playing for Liverpool. He pointed out the complexities and challenges of initiating the transfer process, especially given the recent injury setback to Matip.
“If we’d had a fifth one already in before that, then it would have been a completely different team dynamic,” Klopp added.
The Liverpool manager also recognized that having four fit central defenders is ideal, but unforeseen injuries could complicate the situation. Despite the ongoing demands of multiple competitions, Klopp noted that it’s not as simple as acquiring a world-class center-back in the transfer market.
“It was never wonderland where you bring in a world-class center-half until the other is fit again. Other clubs don’t put them under the Christmas tree for us and say: ‘Take it and use it as long as you need it,'” Klopp explained.
When asked if he had considered signing a center-back in January, Klopp responded, “I didn’t really think about it to be honest.” However, the future of Matip at Liverpool remains uncertain, as his contract is set to expire in the summer. Klopp hinted at the possibility of offering the 32-year-old an extension, suggesting that the club will demonstrate its loyalty to the experienced defender.
With Matip facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Liverpool will need to rely on their existing options in central defense while exploring their transfer possibilities to bolster their squad. Klopp’s pragmatic approach and emphasis on finding the right player highlight the challenges the club faces in addressing this critical area of the team.
