The Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern have been discussing ways in which they can improve their squad this summer, with the replacement of Alberto Moreno high on the agenda.
Liverpool’s defensive woes were almost completely resolved last season with the introduction of Andrew Robertson and the mid-season arrival of Virigil Van Dijk. Together the aforementioned pairing injected solidity and leadership into a back-four which had previously been exposed on a consistent basis in the Premier League.
Although the goalkeeping situation still needs to be resolved, the actual defence is more or less complete, but replacing Moreno with a high-calibre full-back would represent the final piece in the jigsaw. Moreno has had plenty of chances to prove himself with the Reds, but his defensive frailties simply cannot be ignored after four years at Anfield.
With that in mind, Klopp should scout the market for an alternative option this summer, and one player who could slot into the squad is Hertha Berlin’s Martin Plattenhardt (valued at £13.5 million by Transfermarkt). Plattenhardt is current a target for Everton according to Sky Sports, and their interest is hardly surprising considering Leighton Baines is now 33-years-old.
Naturally, Everton will need to replace the ageing Baines in the near future, but Klopp should not allow Marco Silva to have it all his own way in the transfer market. The 26-year-old German international is set to feature at the World Cup this summer, although he is expected to play second fiddle to Jonas Hector.
However, Liverpool should keep a close eye on his form on the international stage if he eventually gets a chance to prove himself, as the quality of his performances could be a telling indicator of his ability to perform under pressure. Plattenhardt is regarded as a solid defender, but some of his most impressive attributes come to the fore when he makes overlapping runs into the final-third and delivers enticing crosses into the box.
The fact he managed to finish the season with 7 Bundesliga assists serves to illuminate the scale of his ability to pick out his teammates in dangerous areas of the field, and his quality in this regard would serve Liverpool well next season.
It’s clear that Moreno is not up to the standard which is required to play the role of Robertson’s understudy, but Plattenhardt appears to be an ideal talent to slot into that position and challenge the Scottish international for a starting berth, so Klopp should do everything in his power to hijack the Toffees bid this summer.
Liverpool fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
