Liverpool are reportedly targetting promising young centre-back Marash Kumbulla, who currently plays for Hellas Verona.
The 20-year-old central defender has made the grade from the academy to the senior team, and is developing well for the Italian side.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Transfer Market Web), the Premier League leaders could make a move for the talented youngster — who has been tracked by several other clubs as well — in the summer.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Napoli, and Inter Milan are a few of the clubs interested in the youngster. Kumbulla’s current deal with Hellas Verona expires in 2022, as he agreed to a contract in 2018.
The Italian-born Albanian international has made one appearance for the Albanian national side, which came last year. The 20-year-old has been a key figure for Hellas Verona in this year’s Serie A, helping them to a top 10 position.
Marash Kumbulla – Is he a Klopp type player?
Kumbulla is an exciting young player who has the potential to be a very good defender. The 20-year-old stands at 6’1″ and is very good in the air, averaging 2.6 aerial balls won per game in the Serie A this season.
He is a player who is defensively sound, making strong tackles and keeping attacks at bay. Kumbulla averages 1.9 tackles and 2.9 clearances per game in the league this season.
He is quick to pounce and make tackles and interceptions and has a good reading of the game from the back. Kumbulla can contribute to the build-up play from the back with his neat short passes. He would be a good addition to Liverpool’s exceptionally talented squad.
While he may not have the ability, at the moment, to compete with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, or Dejan Lovren for a place in the starting XI, he could be groomed to become a key player for the Merseyside club.
His aggressive style of play with his tackling and determination to win the ball, will suit Liverpool’s current set-up under Jurgen Klopp.
If one of the four players Liverpool current have leave on the summer, Kumbulla could be an able backup, to come in for cup games and progress from there.
