Rumours that Liverpool are looking at a left-back seem strange given the perfectly capable option the club already has in Andrew Robertson.
Andrew Robertson has had to work surprisingly hard to win a place in the Liverpool first team this season.
James Milner was played out of position at left-back last term, but Jurgen Klopp then initially preferred the previously out-of-favour Alberto Moreno to new signing Robertson.
The Scotland international has belatedly gained the Reds’ trust for the biggest games, though, and he has been a star performer in the 18 Premier League appearances he has made.
Therefore it is a little surprising to see Liverpool chasing Jonas Hector, with talkSPORT claiming that Klopp’s men have been among those monitoring the Germany international’s situation.
Hector is undoubtedly a fine talent and remains a regular with the world champions, but Liverpool would appear to be signing a top player for the sake of signing a top player.
That may be all well and good in attack – where a new man could offer something different – but at left-back, where Robertson has already had to wait for his chance, it makes little sense.
Although Kicker’s reported fee of around €8million would make Hector somewhat of a bargain, that would not ease Klopp’s struggle to balance playing time between two stars who will certainly believe themselves to be deserving regulars.
Robertson has earned his chance and he deserves the opportunity to start next season in Klopp’s team, while Moreno remains under contract as a suitable back-up, a player surely happier to serve in that role than Hector would be after a difficult season at Cologne.
The former Hull City man has the potential to surpass Hector if given the opportunity and nail down a place for years to come, meaning Liverpool can concentrate on other positions in the transfer window.
That is exactly what Klopp must do this summer, passing up the opportunity to move for a top international.
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