After receiving a bid of £20 million, Liverpool may make a “third attempt” to acquire a center back. “Yes, if there is a good one (centre-back) out there, I would not deny it.” That is it. We definitely examine every aspect of the pitch.”
Even though Jurgen Klopp made it public in May that he wanted to buy a new center back, Liverpool couldn’t buy one this summer. Instead, the Reds spent £150 million on Alex Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch to overhaul their midfield.
Naturally, they had looked for a young left-sided defender who could also play left-back and would work well in their preferred inverted full-back formation. After a successful season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, Levi Colwill had admirers at Anfield. However, the England Under-21s international chose to sign a new long-term contract with Chelsea instead.
If Saudi Arabian interest in Jordan Henderson and Fabinho hadn’t caught Liverpool off guard, they might have looked for Colwill’s replacement. Instead, since they had already signed Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, they had no choice but to add Endo and Gravenberch to their midfield.
However, just four games into the new Premier League season, their inability to acquire a new center back has already come under increased scrutiny. In the 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez served as Klopp’s pairing. Jarell Quansah, a teenager, was the only reserve. Ibrahima Konate is currently out with a muscle injury, and Virgil van Dijk waited to see if his FA-charged suspension for his red card against Newcastle United would be extended.
It’s true that the shortage right now is only temporary. However, Liverpool are playing with fire considering that Van Dijk, Konate, Matip, and Gomez have all sustained injuries at various points in recent years.
Since Matip is expected to leave the team when his contract expires next year, the Reds will need to sign a center back in the coming year. Van Dijk, on the other hand, is 32 years old and out of contract in two years. Gomez and Konate, on the other hand, have recently been linked to moves to Saudi Arabia.
It is impossible for Liverpool to lose all four senior center backs at once. However, after revamping their attack and midfield over the past 18 months, it is evident that the club will next restructure their defense.
Van Dijk’s replacement will be needed by the Reds in the long run. However, for the time being, this desired young, versatile left-sided center back would initially serve as an alternative to Andy Robertson on the left of Liverpool’s defensive three and as a replacement for Joel Matip.
Additionally, their pursuit of such a player may rekindle interest in a former target they have twice attempted to sign.
According to reports from 90 Minute, Liverpool are interested in Lloyd Kelly from AFC Bournemouth once more. The 24-year-old is out of contract at the Vitality Stadium at the end of the 2023/24 season. He is not eager to sign a new contract because Tottenham Hotspur rejected a £20 million offer for him on deadline day.
The report attributes Liverpool and Newcastle United’s interest in the former England Under-21s international to Spurs making a second move for the defender in January. Even though Bournemouth had hoped to get more than £20 million on deadline day, they wouldn’t have had much time to find a good replacement. However, his contract status means that if he doesn’t sign an extension, he could be available for less money midway through the season in anticipation of Bosman leaving next summer.
Following Spurs’ bid last week, Bournemouth manager Adoni Iraola said of Kelly, “He is very valuable as a centre-back or a left-back, and we want him to be part of the team,” before mentioning a possible future departure. There are circumstances that you cannot always control, and each party must be pleased for something to occur.”
The Reds have considered Kelly twice before. Liverpool wanted to sign the then-20-year-old as Robertson’s deputy in the summer of 2019, but he ended up signing for Bournemouth for £13 million instead, which put off Anfield managers. Bristol City caught Liverpool’s attention in the Championship.
In addition, a year after the Cherries’ relegation, the defender was once again considered a potential target. The Greek was one of four candidates on the Reds’ shortlist, along with Kostas Tsimikas, Jamal Lewis, and Sergio Reguilon. The Reds decided to move for Kelly, who was only their “fourth-choice” target after their unsuccessful 2019 pursuit.
However, if Liverpool do rekindle interest in the Bournemouth defender now, it could be their third chance.
If this were to happen, there are many reasons why it would make sense. To begin, it wouldn’t be the first time the Reds have successfully re-engaged an ex-target; Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah are the most well-known examples.
Kelly, who will turn 25 in October, still has his best years ahead of him, and the fact that his contract is about to expire means that he will be available for a price that is affordable. Since the Reds currently only have four senior players to fill the eight berths required to name a full 25-man squad for both domestic and European action, he would, since he is a native of Liverpool.
Kelly’s adaptability, on the other hand, would make a deal even more appealing. Irola pointed out that the defender is extremely valuable at both center and left back, regardless of the team he plays for.
Transfermarkt reports that Kelly has played 91 games at center back and 72 games at left back since making his Bristol City debut in August 2017, demonstrating his versatility in both positions.
He would be a good fit for Liverpool because of his versatility as they continue to adjust to their inverted full-back formation, in which Trent Alexander-Arnold plays central when the Reds have the ball.
Kelly has the speed to cover the ground required for that defensive hybrid role and could serve as a complement to the England international on the opposing flank by tucking in from left back as part of the back three. In the meantime, he could start only at center back, allowing Liverpool to play with a traditional back four as well.
Managers at Liverpool have a lot of time to find their next center back targets because Matip still has nine months left on his Reds contract and the winter transfer window won’t open for another four months. Even though Kelly would satisfy their requirements, it is unknown whether this kind of search will bring them back to a previous target.
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