Fabrizio Romano has urged Liverpool fans to keep an eye on the centre-back market this summer.
The Merseysiders are reportedly considering moving for a central defender in the coming weeks amid their ongoing injury issues in the backline.
At this point in time, a centre-half signing is considered more likely than a new right-back.
Liverpool could actually sign a centre-back this summer
“Keep an eye out for centre-backs. What I’m hearing is that Liverpool could consider a move for a centre-back in the summer transfer window in these final weeks,” Romano spoke on his eponymous YouTube channel.
“Liverpool could add one more player in this position. More than right-back in this specific moment; I would keep an eye on the centre-back position.”
Thank… goodness.
With Giovanni Leoni still recovering from injury, Joe Gomez having recently picked up an injury and Jeremy Jacquet yet to be involved in any of Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies, things were clearly not looking good in the centre-back department ahead of the new season.
Yes, we can appreciate the argument that if all of these players are fit, we technically have a full complement of centre-backs.
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But let’s be honest here. Between Gomez’s historically poor injury record and Leoni and Jacquet’s recent serious injuries, it would involve an incredible leap of faith to make the case that we’re fully stocked.
READ MORE: Talks collapsed: Liverpool now in frame to complete £34.2m central defender signing
Don’t forget either that if we’re not planning to sign a right-back this summer, we need to be able to rely on the Englishman to support Jeremie Frimpong while we wait for Conor Bradley to return from the treatment room.
Liverpool need a right-back as well
At a reported price point of £35m, we’re really surprised that the links to Tottenham right-back Djed Spence haven’t evolved much further.
Of course, there’s every possibility that Liverpool look to be clever about solving their needs at right-back and centre-back with a hybrid signing who can cover both positions.
Like, say, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa or Barcelona’s Jules Kounde. There is, of course, an option Liverpool are already intimately familiar with in Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah – but it would take £70m to bring the England international back to L4, which is not something we think our recruitment team can countenance.
Either way, there are options out there on the market that may very well come cheaper than splashing £35m on Spence and £34.2m on Ousmane Diomande.
Regardless, we think it would be a terrible idea to leave either position short on bodies going into the 2026/27 season.
Everyone thinks it would be a terrible idea to leave short in defensive area… except Richard Hughes…
Just a few weeks until the first game away at Newcastle and nobody knows who plays where.
As a big football club we can’t keep shoehorning midfield players to play in defence because we haven’t got enough defender’s. Maybe Richard Hughes and FSG think this is fine, playing gravenberch and szoboszlai at centre back and right back, but that then weakens the midfield.
Ask every Liverpool former player’s, pundits , and most Liverpool fans and they all say we need to strengthen the defence and have better protection in front of the defence. We can’t all be wrong.
Steven Gerrard saying yesterday, the team needs major surgery. He’s right, he also said last season we were miles off where we should be.
Richard Hughes should have been sacked after the costly mistakes of last summer, he got slot sacked, why is he still making decisions on signings.
Liverpool football club is totally rudderless,
With charlatan owners FSG more concerned with their current failures at the Boston red Sox.
Just wait until the window closes and Hughes will be gone !
Their current failures are 1/2 game behind the Yankees at the moment with a much smaller payroll and on course to make the playoffs.
FSG has delivered 2 EPL championships, a Champions League title, 3 UCL finals, rebuilt 2 stands at Anfield, built a new practice facility, and STILL you bitch about them.
How about a thank you, you ungrateful limey bastard?
I would say £35m for djed Spence is a no brainer, one of our best players at the World Cup. Could be worth double that in 2 years
I think the addition of Spence to Liverpool’ s back line,would be the best option, as he can play as a right back, as well as a center back. Besides the fee is considerate.Secondly, if the club could sign Barcola,as well as Mbaye,the club would be good enough to participate on all fronts.I wish them all the very best. Good luck and God bless.