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It has been just over a month since Liverpool suffered yet another injury to his center-back service, with Joe Gomez experiencing a knee problem while on international duty with England.
The Reds have done fairly well without Virgil van Dijk and the England defender, but a reinforcement is still desired as the club draw closer to the opening of the winter transfer window in January.
It remains to be seen if business will really materialize to make Liverpool want to promote the negotiations, but a recent development in France could attract the attention of the English champions.
It was reported on Tuesday evening that Lille president and majority shareholder – Gérard Lopez – had met with Elliott Management – who are the club’s main backers – to discuss debt issues and what lies ahead at the to come up.
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Word is that the club are due to repay the loans by next summer which could open the door for Liverpool to move for Sven Botman, who is a center-back and one of their best talents.
Botman only left Ajax in the summer for around £ 9million and signed a five-year contract meaning that under normal circumstances he would be expensive or not available for a transfer.
Lille’s financial situation means the club could be forced into a sell-off and if so the Reds should consider testing the water with a conversation about the Dutch defender.
Botman ticks a lot of the boxes that Liverpool generally enjoy and he is only 20 years old which only increases his potential value.
Despite his young age, Botman is 6ft 4in tall and possesses a number of dominant characteristics that allow him to control situations against most opponents, with his height aiding his aerial ability.
He has played 78 mid-air matches in Ligue 1 this season, winning 58 of those that give him an impressive 74.4% winning percentage. For perspective, Van Dijk won 81% of his Premier League duels last season and Joe Gomez won 62.1%.
Pep Ljinders has spoken about the importance of air force for a Liverpool center-back in the past, saying: “As a pressing team you have to put up with a lot of long balls and second balls so it’s important that you have central defenders who are good in the air so they can win the first challenge.
This is certainly an advantage that Botman has and it doesn’t hamper his speed on the pitch much as he is reasonably mobile despite his size, which is important given Klopp’s tendency to deploy a high defensive line.
Additionally, the Dutchman is left-handed, which is a relatively rare trait among top center-backs, and he’s comfortable in possession, which perhaps isn’t a surprise given his rise through the ranks. of the Ajax youth academy. His pass network from the Ligue 1 game he’s played the most assists in so far this season is pictured below, and he shows how he uses the ball in different ways.
This season he ranks third in the French top flight for last-third passes behind only Marco Verratti and Steven Nzonzi, and he ranks first for progressive passes, with those defined as completed passes that at least move the ball towards the opponent’s goal. 10 yards from his furthest point in the last six passes or completed passes in the penalty area.
Botman has a very modern profile and his skill set is suited not only to cope but also to thrive in defense for a high-risk team like Liverpool, as less competent center-backs often have their weaknesses highlighted when faced. to difficult responsibilities such as management. individual situations and defense of open spaces 50 meters from the goal.
How much of an emergency Klopp sees his central defensive struggles as an emergency remains to be seen, but ultimately, given Lille’s current predicament and Botman’s ability to perform at Anfield, a move in the near future could be a transfer to watch.
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