According to a report by The Sun, Fulham are interested in signing out-of-favour Liverpool defender Joel Matip. Despite starting just one game for the Reds this season, The Sun claims that Fenerbahce are also harbouring an interest in the centre-back.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have started the season quite solidly and are definitely one of the favourites to lift the title – provided they can bring a halt to Pep Guardiola’s high-flying Manchester City.
And yet, Matip has turned into a forgotten figure at Anfield and it would be best for him to look for pastures anew elsewhere. To that end, joining Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham would be a good move for the Cameroonian.
Considering the way Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have gelled together, it is understandably tough for Matip to secure regular starts for himself. However, one cannot deny his influence from the previous term.
At a time when the Reds’ defence was faltering and vulnerable, Matip rose to the fore and put in some solid performances at the back.
In fact, he somehow extracted the best out of the likes of Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan as well – until van Dijk arrived. But even then, he continued to partner the Dutchman until an injury sidelined him which led to a severe dip in form as well.
Since then, he has not featured in Klopp’s plans but moving to a club like the relegation-threatened Fulham does seem like the ideal choice. They have one of the worst defences in the Premier League this term, having conceded a staggering 31 goals.
They are in dire need of a leader at the back – a no-nonsense defender who knows the ropes and is unafraid to call the shots. And in Matip, they will receive all that and more.
With his towering stature and aerial presence, Matip could indeed work wonders for the Cottagers. In fact, he could make the difference between them surviving relegation and succumbing to the drop. Thus, Ranieri and co must pull out all the stops and make an attempt to sign Matip from Liverpool in January.
