Liverpool have reportedly made contact with Napoli to sign their defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly.
Do not rub your eyes, you read that right. Despite having the best defence in the league, the Reds could make a move for Koulibaly to further strengthen their backline.
The ramifications of missing out in Champions League football is the reason Napoli could consider selling Koulibaly when the transfer window opens, according to Calciomercato.
Koulibaly has been linked with a move to Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United (h/t Mirror), even after the Red Devils signed Harry Maguire last summer, but it remains to be seen where his final destination will be.
Although Liverpool’s defence is already pretty resilient with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk doing well together, and Joel Matip acting as a strong backup, signing Koulibaly could be a master-stroke by Klopp, and for two reasons.
Rotation with world-class players
In the last couple of years, Liverpool have improved their bench strength under Klopp, but Koulibaly’s arrival could almost add a degree of invincibility to their defence.
Despite boasting a good defence, van Dijk has been a regular feature at the back, and when he doesn’t feature, the team doesn’t look the same defensively. Kalidou Koulibaly could remove that hint of weakness at the back.
A potential quartet of Gomez, van Dijk, Matip, and Koulibaly would make Liverpool’s defence pretty much impenetrable in almost every competition.
Stopping rivals from strengthening
Manchester City have been Liverpool’s biggest rivals in the last two seasons, and judging by how the teams performed before the league was suspended, it doesn’t seem like the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal can threaten the top two. Unless they make some big signings, of course.
Manchester United, despite their poor performances over the last few years, still possess the financial muscle to make big-money signings. Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes have strengthened the United team, and if they sign Koulibaly, their defence could become a lot meaner.
Koulibaly is one of the best in the world, and should the Reds sign him, they will have stopped Manchester United from considerably improving their team.