With Joel Matip scheduled to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and Virgil van Dijk nearing the end of his career at age 32, the time is approaching when a generational change in the center back corps must be underway.
Liverpool have been searching for a left-handed center back since last summer, and young defenders such as Sporting defender Goncalo Inácio and Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapié have been mentioned, while Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, who plays in the Premier League, is also a candidate.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Liverpool are in pole position in the battle for the former England U-21 defender and are close to landing him on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
To replace 33-year-old defender Alex Sandro, Juventus are also interested in the defender, who has made over 100 appearances for Bournemouth. He can play as a left back as well as a center back, and despite his height of 190 cm, he has solid foot skills.
He has played a total of 45 games in the Premier League and has been on the pitch in 120 games in the Championship. Although he does not have a wealth of experience in the top flight, he has performed well enough to be rated highly for his playing style.
It is also possible that technical director Richard Hughes, who is leaving the club at the end of the season to become sporting director at Liverpool, could move to Anfield with the player.
However, the player has not been able to break his injury habit. He has only played in about half of the games this season and is still out with a hip injury. He has suffered repeated muscle, hamstring, and ankle injuries in recent years, and it is unlikely that the team would acquire a player who is difficult to calculate for the entire season.
If he can keep injuries at bay, he could be acquired, but if his body does not keep up with the intensity of English soccer, he would not be an appropriate addition to the squad.
Will Liverpool ever whitewash a defender who is unable to escape injury?