Liverpool Set to Target Bundesliga for £30 Million Successor to Joel Matip

Liverpool’s hunt for a new centre-back intensifies following Joel Matip’s unfortunate injury, which is expected to sideline him for the rest of the season. Manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed the severity of Matip’s knee injury after the defender was forced off during Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Fulham in the Premier League.

Matip, a key figure since his transfer from Schalke seven years ago, faces a bleak outlook as he grapples with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. The Cameroonian is in the final year of his contract with Liverpool.

Klopp expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s what I unfortunately expected from the first second. Everything looked like that. It’s very unfortunate.”

Having made 201 appearances and scoring 11 goals across various competitions, Matip’s absence leaves a void that Liverpool seeks to fill from the Bundesliga. Reports from The Sun suggest Klopp has identified Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi as potential replacements.

Lacroix, 23, joined Wolfsburg in 2020 from Sochaux and is known for his pace, versatility, and ability to play as a right-back. With only 18 months left on his contract, Wolfsburg might consider a £30 million deal for the promising defender.

Liverpool has a history of successful Bundesliga acquisitions, having previously secured talents like Matip and Ibrahim Konate. Recent signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo also hail from the German league.

However, the pursuit doesn’t solely focus on Germany. The Sun reports Klopp’s interest in England’s Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The 23-year-old has garnered attention, but Palace values him at over £50 million and is reluctant to part ways in the upcoming transfer window.

In the interim, Konate emerges as the primary candidate to partner Virgil van Dijk, supported by Joe Gomez and young prospect Jarell Quansah within Liverpool’s defensive options.