Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City is reportedly among the players Liverpool are looking at as Jurgen Klopp braces himself for an important summer ahead.
A recent transfer update from The Times has shed some light on Liverpool’s pursuit of a new centre-back this summer. The Premier League giants have prioritised the signing of a new defender to combat the defensive crisis Jurgen Klopp has faced this season, with Caglar Soyuncu among the players courted as potential options.
The Leicester City centre-back is joined by Ben White of Brighton & Hove Albion in the list of potential alternatives for Liverpool, should they miss out on the services of Ibrahima Konate.
The RB Leipzig star has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield this week, with the Reds expected to meet the player’s £34 million release clause. The Frenchman’s arrival at Liverpool may negate the club’s pursuit of Soyuncu, but it appears that Turk is not a bad option either and perhaps a less risky one.
This is primarily due to the fact that the former VfB Stuttgart centre-back, after initially enduring a slow start to his career at the King Power Stadium, has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence under Brendan Rodgers. Over the course of the last 20 months, the 24-year-old has become an indispensable figure at the heart of the Leicester backline, notching up over 73 competitive outings.
Although Soyuncu’s progress has been halted by injuries in the ongoing campaign, his return to fitness has served as a boon for the Foxes, who are still in the fight for a top four finish in the Premier League this season. The player himself has now established himself as not only an intimidating presence for the attackers but also a leader at the heart of the backline.
Indeed, the Turkish international boasts an imposing frame and aggression that makes him a tailor-made fit for the Premier League. He is also quite composed in possession, which draws resemblance with Liverpool’s very own star in Virgil van Dijk.
It is also fair to point out that, unlike Konate, Soyuncu is not as injury-prone, barring the problem he had issues with this season. Combined that with his experience in the Premier League and Soyuncu is a far more logical and safer option for Liverpool.
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At the same time, though, the Reds will have to dig deep in their pockets if they are to afford Soyuncu at the end of the season. In fact, the 25-year-old is more than likely to breach the €50 million mark, leaving Klopp with a dilemma as the Liverpool boss seeks to bolster his defensive options this summer, although it looks like Konate is set to arrive at Anfield.
