Liverpool have previously been linked with a move for Josko Gvardiol and a new claim has now emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the summer transfer window.
What’s the latest on Liverpool’s interest in Gvardiol?
According to journalist David Lynch, the Reds will be “all over” the RB Leipzig centre-back in an attempt to bolster their squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign.
Speaking on the Born And Red YouTube channel, Lynch claimed: “I’ve absolutely no doubt that Liverpool will be all over Gvardiol in the summer.
“The Red Bull link, I know they watch them regularly and will absolutely love him.
“He says he’s really keen on coming to Liverpool but it’s just the price tag that could be an issue. You would have to do something in terms of moving a centre-half on for decent-ish money I think to even look at that.”
Klopp could finally bin Joe Gomez
There is little doubt that things need to change at Anfield and that became crystal clear once again in the humiliating 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
The Reds took their heaviest home defeat ever in Europe when Carlo Ancelotti’s side ran riot under the floodlights on the red side of Merseyside in another humbling realisation for Jurgen Klopp that his once successful squad has turned stale.
Should Liverpool sell Gomez to sign Gvardiol?
Yes
No
This poor performance came just a day after FSG confirmed that they were not interested in selling and will continue to work in the best interests of the club, so reinvestment should be their number one priority in the development and pursuit of further success.
As suggested by Lynch, the club would likely need to bolster funds by moving on another centre-back this summer and one player who should surely be in the firing line for an Anfield exit is Joe Gomez after his “nightmare” display against Madrid – as dubbed by writer Demar Grant.
The 25-year-old dud was absolutely savaged when it came to player ratings with the hard-to-impress L’Equipe giving the Liverpool defender just a two out of ten rating in the aftermath of his blunder-filled performance.
The popular French publication wrote that Klopp would ‘undoubtedly regret’ playing Gomez over Joel Matip, citing that ‘the English defender, who was very feverish in defence, was involved in all the goals conceded’.
Gvardiol, on the other hand, has been a standout performer for his side in the Bundesliga and has been attracting plenty of attention for his solid defensive performances in the Leipzig back-line and, in comparison to Gomez, has been a reliable presence.
The Croatian defender – hailed “fearless” by Rio Ferdinand – has outperformed Gomez in a number of attributes already this season including pass completion rate (88.6% v 85.6%), interceptions (22 v 21), blocks (20 v 15), take-on success rate (90.9% v 80%), aerial duels won (59.5% v 53.3%) and shot-creating actions (20 v 16).
These statistics indicate that the ex-Dinamo Zagreb star would be an upgrade in terms of what he offers defensive and in possession – by being more efficient and effective with his defensive and attacking actions.
With that being said, if Liverpool can meet the reported exit clause of €110m (£97m) it would be a great investment into repairing the defensive issues in the squad and Klopp must ditch Gomez in order to sign the Leipzig enforcer.
