Liverpool have done some tremendous transfer business in recent years.
The Reds have signed the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker on their way to winning a Champions League and a Premier League.
While this Reds team was largely built between the summer of 2016 and 2018. One of the most underrated signings the Merseyside club have made was actually in early 2016.
Of course, we’re talking about Joel Matip. The defender signed a pre-contract agreement in early 2016. And since arriving at Anfield he’s been brilliant.
Matip has been quietly plugging away for Liverpool for many years now, but this season, he’s really come into his own.
The Cameroonian has just been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award, and he absolutely deserves such recognition.
He’s often been outshone by Virgil van Dijk, but this term, he’s made a case for being just as good as, if not better than the Dutchman.
Matip didn’t cost the Reds a penny, and somehow, he’s keeping £36m man Ibrahima Konate and England international Joe Gomez out of the starting XI on a weekly basis.
Everyone speaks about how brilliant a deal Liverpool got when signing the likes of Salah and Mane for fees that now look ridiculous, but landing Matip on a free transfer is up there with the best deals the Premier League has ever seen.
On a free, Liverpool got a player who has been a brilliant servant for six years. He’s played as both a rotation option and a key starter and he’s never once complained about not playing enough or wanting an improved deal.
Factor in that he’s also a firm fans’ favourite, and you have one of the best, and somehow, most underrated signings in modern Premier League history.
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