According to French outlet Le10Sport (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool have registered an interest in signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier. The Belgian international will be a free agent in the summer with his contract expiring and has attracted interest from a number of clubs, with Liverpool now joining the list.
Meunier, 28, started out at the academy of RUS Saint-Ode, before spending time at Givry and Standard Liege youth setups. He left the latter in 2006, joining RE Virton, for whom he made just five first-team appearances, before signing for Club Brugge in 2016.
The Belgian featured 198 times for the club, scoring 20 goals and assisting 22 more. In 2016, Meunier signed for PSG, but he never really established himself as the first-choice at the club. Till date, he has made 128 appearances for the club, scoring 13 goals.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have enjoyed a splendid 2019/20 campaign. Building on their Champions League success last term, the Reds are on the verge of winning the Premier League. The Reds have a massive 25-point lead at the top of the table and need just two wins in nine matches to lift their first league title in thirty years. In addition, they have also won the FIFA Club World Cup.
For Liverpool to sustain this success, the squad needs to be strengthened in the summer transfer window. Bringing in quality backup in the attacking third should be a top priority for Jurgen Klopp, while another centre-half would also be a smart addition, with Dejan Lovren’s future in doubt.
However, signing another right-back in the form of Meunier seems a tad unnecessary at the moment. True that Nathaniel Clyne’s contract is on the verge of expiry. However, in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool have one of the best right-backs in the game currently. The England international has produced amazing numbers of 2 goals and 14 assists this season.
As a backup, Klopp can call upon the services of Joe Gomez, as he has done on a number of occasions. Indeed, 43 of Gomez’s 100 appearances for Liverpool have come in the right-back slot.
Furthermore, 19-year-old Neco Williams is another exciting option at Klopp’s disposal. The academy ace made his first-team debut this season and has made quite an impression, with three assists in five matches.
Given the options that Klopp has at his disposal, signing a new right-back in the form of Meunier would be an unnecessary move. The 28-year-old’s arrival would only serve to derail the development of Williams, who has shown great potential in his debut campaign.
In Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool have one of the top right-backs in the game. With Joe Gomez an able backup, along with rising talent Neco Williams, the Reds don’t need another right-sided full-back this summer. Hence, signing Thomas Meunier would be an unnecessary move for the Premier League champions-elect.
