Next year, the mainstays of the final line, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, will turn 33 years old. In addition, the former Schalke defender’s contract expires and he may leave the club outright. Ibrahima Konate also has a habit of getting injured, and Joe Gomez is starting to be treated as a handyman.
20-year-old defender Jarell Quansah has emerged and has been a consistent performer, especially in the Europa League. He is one of the most promising players in the future, but he still lacks experience. It is difficult to use him against strong opponents, and it has been reported that Liverpool may be in the market for a new center back.
While various defenders’ names are being tossed around, French defender Jean-Clair Todibo, who is a mainstay at Nice, is also a candidate. According to The Standard, Tottenham Hotspur is also in the market for the 23-year-old center back, with Manchester United also interested.
The club boasted a solid defense with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, who joined the club this summer, but has not been able to maintain the same solidity in the reserve team after the former left the club injured and the latter was suspended due to a red card.
Securing a center back at a level that can compete with the regulars has become a priority, and the French defender is on the list, along with Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi.
The player, who has also played for Barcelona in the past, will move completely to Nice in 2021. He made over 100 appearances for the club and made his debut for the national team in September 2023. This season, he is in a fierce battle with Paris Saint-Germain for the top of the table and supports the team from the final line.
However, Liverpool is prioritizing left-handed defenders, and he can be expected to be a new option in a center-back corps that is all right-handed.
The 23-year-old center back has the ability to be a starter at any big club, but which club will he be playing for next season…?