VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 27: Ezequiel Garay of Valencia looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League group H match between Valencia CF and Chelsea FC at Estadio Mestalla on November 27, 2019 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
According to Fichahes (h/t MSN), Liverpool have been linked with free agent Ezequiel Garay. The Reds have been hit hard by the ACL injury to Virgil Van Dijk, who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. With the market now closed, free agents are the way to go.
Ezequiel Garay, 34, started his youth career at Newell’s Old Boys back in his native Argentina. He was promoted to the senior side in 2004 and spent just one season there before moving to Racing Santander.
After two years, the Argentinean was signed by Real Madrid but was immediately loaned back to Racing for that season. On his return, he featured sporadically for Madrid and made just 31 appearances. A move to Benfica followed in 2011.
He started getting more game time in Portugal and went on to play 136 games, scoring 12 goals (source – Transfermarkt). In 2014, Zenit St. Petersburg signed him. He spent just two seasons there before moving to Valencia.
He was a mainstay in their backline and made over 100 appearances during his 6-year stay. His contract expired at the end of last season and he has been a free agent since July. Garay also has 32 caps for his national team.
Given Van Dijk’s injury at this point of the season, things are even more complicated, now that they can’t sign a replacement. The January transfer window is still more than two months away and that is the earliest the club can dip into the transfer market.
However, with his free-agent status, Garay offers Liverpool a decent stop-gap solution. There aren’t very many players who are available on a free right now that might suit Liverpool.
The fact is Garay would likely play as a cover for Matip and Gomez. Those two are expected to line up in Van Dijk’s absence but as the only two senior centre-backs available, they would need cover.
Ezequiel Garay comes with the experience playing for the best of clubs in Europe and despite his age, he wouldn’t be a bad plan B to have. He is perhaps their best option considering the current circumstances. The club should look to bring him in a short-term deal until they can get a replacement in.
