Joel Matip is confirmed out for the season due to a serious injury. His contract with Liverpool runs through June 2024, and he may leave the club outright. Rumors are heating up about acquiring a center back to replace the former Schalke defender, who will turn 33 next year.
Sporting defender Goncalo Inácio, whose name has been mentioned for some time, is reportedly among the targets. Most recently, 23-year-old defender Maxence Lacroix of Bundesliga side Wolfsburg has surfaced as a target.
However, according to Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are not interested in the player and will not make a move for him this winter, completely denying the news circulating.
Contrary to conflicting reports, Maxence Lacroix is not a transfer target for FC Liverpool in winter / #LFC.
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) December 10, 2023
Via @Sky_SvenT | @SkySportDE 🇫🇷🇬🇵 pic.twitter.com/wrFoKkmoOO
The French defender, who sought a place in Germany from Sochaux in the summer of 2020, has made 114 appearances for the club so far this season and has been a mainstay of the team, starting in every game except the suspended ones.
He has experience with the French U-20 national team, but not the full national team, and has the potential to be selected for the national team in the future, and could be good enough to play in the Premier League. At the moment, however, his first challenge in England seems to be a long way off.
Will Liverpool be in the market for a new center back by the end of next January?