Why Diego Carlos could strengthen Liverpool’s defence next season
According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Liverpool are keen on signing Sevilla defender Diego Carlos.
Premier League leaders Liverpool were interested in the 27-year-old centre-back in January but were willing to wait until summer to make a move. Now Marca suggests that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has reignited his interests in the Brazilian as he is on the lookout for a defensive partner for their star man Virgil van Dijk.
Carlos has been an integral part of Sevilla’s squad this year, making 3 appearances across all competitions and helping them keep 13 clean sheets. His rock-solid displays at the back for Sevilla have seen them climb to fourth place in the league table and improve upon their performances from the previous two seasons where they finished sixth and seventh respectively.
Out of his 13 clean sheets for Sevilla, 10 of those have come in the league, where he has featured 25 times in 28 games overall, making him an instant hit at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Carlos recently moved to Spain from French side Nantes last summer.
However, it would not be an easy task for Klopp and his associates to get hold of the defender with top clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona also interested in him.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have had a splendid season so far and are currently atop the league standings. The Reds have won 27 of their 29 league matches and have conceded just 21 goals – the fewest by any side in the top-flight.
A strong back-four has been one of the reasons for Liverpool’s success in the league, however, manager Klopp believes that he needs a consistent centre-back to strengthen his options ahead of next season.
Joel Matip started the season for the Reds, partnering alongside Van Dijk in the heart of their defence. However, injuries saw the Cameroonian lose his spot to young Joe Gomez, who has now cemented his place in the first-team line-up.
Veteran Dejan Lovren has got a few chances to prove his credentials, however, with just nine league appearances to his name, it is very evident that the Croatian has fallen down Klopp’s pecking order. Having said that, Kloop believes that a consistent player like Carlos could give them more depth and strengthen their squad for next season.
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Verdict
Injuries to Matip saw Klopp relying on Gomez and Lovren, depending on the team’s requirements this season. However, the German would be aware that they need a consistent player in their ranks to stay at the top and who better than Carlos, who has been Sevilla’s defensive mainstay.
Moreover, it would not take Carlos much time to adjust to the new surroundings in Anfield, having proved his mettle in France and now Spain.
