Liverpool have offered Ajax £27 million for Perr Schuurs as they look to lure the Eredivisie centre-back to the Premier League during the January transfer window, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
While some reports had suggested that the Merseyside giants would avoid the temptation to spend big in the winter, despite losing Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez to potentially season-ending injuries, a worrying Champions League defeat to Atalanta on Wednesday could change the plan a little.
Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips are highly regarded at Anfield, but can they be relied on week in, week out as Liverpool look to retain their Premier League crown and reach the latter stages of Europe’s top club competition?
To quote Reds legend Mark Lawrenson, the talented but injury-prone Joel Matip is ‘like a willow tree; he occasionally gets blown over and he’s not fit for two or three weeks’ (talkSPORT).
Liverpool have been linked with a number of exciting Europe-based centre-halves and, according to Corriere dello Sport, Schuurs is right at the top of their wish list.
A player likened to former Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt due to his composure in possession and rangy frame is yet to extend a contract that expires in 2022.
And Liverpool have now allegedly made a move to test the water, putting a £27 million offer on the table.
Schuurs, who turned down the chance to join Liverpool in 2017 (VI), really caught the eye as Klopp’s side won 1-0 in Amsterdam in this season’s Champions League group stage; even if he was turned rather easily by Sadio Mane in the build up to the winning goal.
“(Schuurs) will be the new Matthijs de Ligt,” Reds legend Michael Owen told BT Sport after the game (21 October, 10.30pm). “He is still young, but what a body and what strength. He already reminds me a lot of De Ligt.
“Nice on the ball, aggressive and strong for his age. (Ajax) sold De Ligt for a lot of money but he can take over that role completely.”
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