Joel Matip arrived at Anfield on a free transfer from Schalke in the summer of 2016. Under Jurgen Klopp, he made 201 appearances and won the Champions League and Premier League.
The 32-year-old German centre-back left Liverpool at the end of the season when his contract expired. The club are on the lookout for a replacement and have been looking to secure a new defender, and have been eyeing a left-handed centre-back since last summer.
Meanwhile, a number of right-handed centre-back names have also emerged. According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are on the verge of acquiring Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou, who is unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season, and are prepared to start negotiations over a transfer fee of over €60 million.
The Ivory Coast defender, who moved to Germany from Club Brugge in the summer of 2021, has been a key player this season. He made 33 appearances throughout the Europa League, although he spent some time warming the bench along the way.
The 23-year-old defender, who has been on the pitch for over 100 games for Bayer Leverkusen, is a dominant physical and athletic player who can shut down opposition attackers. As usual, he is also an excellent ball handler and has all the elements required of a modern centre-back.
However, the priority remains a left-footed centre-back. With a number of players on the list, including Frankfurt defender William Pacho, the odds of paying €60 million for the Ivory Coast defender seem slim.
So, which defender will Liverpool, looking to strengthen their final line, whitewash?