Liverpool are reported to have made contact with French club Lille OSC over a possible move for defender Sven Botman.
Jürgen Klopp has seen his squad decimated this season by an injury crisis of unprecedented proportions. The two most-serious injuries were sustained by The Reds’ first-choice centre-back pair of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. Both players are out for most of the season with neither expected to return before April or even May.
With Joël Matip having his own difficulties in remaining fit for prolonged periods of a season, it means that Liverpool have had to use Fabinho as the club’s primary centre-back this season.
A move for a centre-back this January is entirely possible as the squad does need reinforcements in that area for the long-term so it would not be just considered a stop-gap measure.
As reported on footmercato.net, Liverpool have reportedly registered their interest in Sven Botman, a 20-year-old Dutch centre-half who moved to Lille last summer.
Botman has started 16 Ligue 1 games for Lille this season, helping his new club to first-position in the French top flight.
The left-footed defender prefers to play on the left side of a centre-back duo. He is 6’4″ tall so offers a commanding presence in the back line.
Botman is yet to make his Netherlands debut but he was called up to the international squad back in November – a remarkable feat for a 20-year-old defender.
The footmercato article states:
According to our information, Liverpool have indeed expressed their interest to the player’s representative and contacted him during the month of November. Remember that the Reds have lost their two usual holders Van Dijk and Gomez for many months, and that they are fond of players with strong profiles.
With Serie A side Inter Milan also rumoured to be following Botman’s progress, footmercato claims:
According to Olivier Létang on Monday, there is no “will or need to sell players” during the month of January. In reality, the LOSC is considered by several European formations as a club where you can do your shopping at a lower cost.
Sven Botman could thus leave for a sum of around € 30 million.
January will be a very interesting month for Liverpool fans. Klopp and co generally like to avoid the mid-season transfer market but next month could be different, given the injury problems The Reds have endured so far in this campaign.
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