Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should consider selling Joel Matip this summer if an eight-figure offer comes in
The Cameroon international has been at Anfield since 2016, but has only appeared 21 times in all competitions for the Reds this season (Transfermarkt), and the 31-year-old is in the final 13 months of his £100,000-per-week contract (FBref).
Carragher was speaking to The Redmen TV when he advocated accepting bids of £10 million or more for the centre-back, emphasizing the importance of Jurgen Klopp bringing in a left-footed option.
“I look at the defense and I think Joel Matip now has a year to go,” the 45-year-old said. If you have £10 million, whatever the price, it is probably time to move on.
“I believe we require a left-sided defender, a left-footed center-back.” Many teams have them, but we don’t. A left-handed player would be useful.
“Rather than getting a left-back, which I doubt we’ll do, if we’re going to stick with this formation now, (it should be) buying someone in that area, a centre-back who can play full-back.” “I definitely believe in a left-sided centre-back capable of doing that left-back job.”
What Carragher is saying makes a lot of sense in some ways. To begin, Liverpool signed Matip on a free transfer seven years ago, and this summer represents their final chance to recoup a fee for him before his contract expires in 2024.
If the Reds can get £10 million or more (all profit) for a 31-year-old who only played sporadically last season, that appears to be very sound business.
The Sky Sports pundit is also correct in his call for the signing of a left-footed centre-back, with all of Klopp’s current options stronger on their right (Transfermarkt).
However, with Nathaniel Phillips expected to leave and injuries plaguing both Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez this season, Liverpool should not dismiss Matip too quickly.
If they are to approve his sale, it should be contingent on bringing in a reliable left-footed recruit first. The Reds cannot afford to lose a perfectly capable defender and then find themselves with only the bare essentials at the back.
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