Liverpool should make a move for Lazio defender Wesley Hoedt.
The report claims that the player has agreed a contract worth around £30,000-a-week at Southampton. The Saints are expecting to push through the deal, and hoping to finalise the transfer within this week.
However, anything can happen in a transfer window, and there are several instances of last minute deals being hijacked.
With that in mind, Liverpool should make a move for the Lazio defender quickly and present a better offer to the Italian club.
Central defence has been a problematic area for Liverpool for a while. Liverpool made a concrete attempt to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton this summer, but it seems that he won’t be joining the Reds before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool have bolstered their attacking line-up this summer, but it’s the defensive frailty that is letting them down – the 3-3 draw against Watford is another reminder where the club needs to invest.
The 6ft 4in tall defender possesses an ideal physique for the Premier League. The 23-year-old is good at reading the game, while is tactically smart to adopt to different systems.
One of his major strengths is his ability in the air. Hoedt won 86.6% of his battles in the air last season, the best by any player in the Serie A.
Another key feature of his game is his ability to play long passes. Thus, he can initiate a sudden attack from the back by playing a 40-50 yard pass, and this should excite Jurgen Klopp, who prefers high tempo attacking football.
Given his age, quality, versatility, flexibility, and price tag, Liverpool must make a move for him before the defender puts pen to paper for Southampton.
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