According to Rudy Galetti, Liverpool are now amongst the clubs interested in Josko Gvardiol.
Gvardiol is widely thought to be the top centre-back of the next generation, and he showed at the World Cup just what a talent he is.
Indeed, the RB Leipzig star was immense in defence for Croatia. He was an absolute titan at the back, while his ball-playing ability looks perfectly suited to Liverpool.
Interestingly, Gvardiol is a left-footer, and his arrival may lead to one key change in the Liverpool defence.
If Gvardiol comes in as a left-footed centre-half, one has to assume that Virgil van Dijk will shift over to play as the right-sided centre-back in the back four.
Van Dijk has played left of either Joe Gomez, Joel Matip or Ibrahima Konate in recent years, but as a right-footer, he’s more than capable of playing on the other side too.
Van Dijk moving over slightly may not seem like a huge switch, but this could have ramifications on another Liverpool star – Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As many will know, Alexander-Arnold has been critiqued time and time again for his defensive contributions and his tendency to let his man get in behind him, but if he has van Dijk marshalling the space alongside him, his lack of defensive acumen may not be so obvious.
Van Dijk is, undoubtedly, one of the best centre-backs of his generation, and while Joel Matip, Gomez and Konate are brilliant, van Dijk is another level and he will be able to cover for Alexander-Arnold’s slip-ups much more easily.
The Dutchman playing next to Alexander-Arnold could rejuvenate his season. Not only will it cover for him defensively, that cover should also provide him with the extra confidence needed to start making positive contributions in the attacking third once again.
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