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#3 Sepp van den Berg
A young Dutch defender, Sepp van den Berg joined Liverpool from Zwolle for a fee of £1.3 million last summer. The Reds beat the likes of Bayern Munich, Ajax and PSV to his signature, with the overwhelming attention from these clubs showing just how highly rated he is.
The Dutchman became the fifth-youngest player to appear in the Eredivisie during the 2017-18 season, at 16 years and two months. The spotlight has been on the youngster ever since.
Still only 18 years of age, Van den Berg has played 4 times for the Reds this season, all in the cup competitions, and has impressed enough to be on the manager’s radar when the next season comes along.
The youngster is a strong presence in the air and is calm and composed in tackles, often staying on his feet for as long as possible to shut out any danger, similar to a certain Dutchman in the team.
Although there might be questions as to whether the youngster is ready to make the step up in one of the toughest leagues, his growth will certainly be aided by spending time with the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
#2 Ki-Jana Hoever
Another exciting youngster in the Liverpool ranks, Ki-Jana Hoever has been with the Reds for the past couple of seasons. He is another player who has had a meteoric rise from the youth ranks to the first team.
The youngster made his Liverpool debut in the 2018-19 FA Cup fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers, just a few days shy of his 17th birthday. Although Liverpool lost the game on the day, the youngster’s performance proved that the Reds had a gem on their hands.
Hoever, similar to Sep van den Berg, was presented with chances in the various cup competitions this season, albeit in the right-back slot. The Dutchman has shown flashes of promise, scoring his first-ever senior goal in a 2-0 victory over MK Dons in the League Cup earlier this season.
As Liverpool seem unlikely to spend millions this summer, Klopp might turn towards the academy for further exploration, with Hoever expected to get more first-team action next season.
#1 Fabinho
This would be more of a stop-gap option for Liverpool in case they decide not to pursue a replacement for Lovren. Fabinho, who plays in defensive midfield for the Reds, is versatile enough to deputise in the centre of defence in case Gomez and Matip are not available. After all, the Brazilian started his career as a right-back.
Klopp could turn to this option especially if they sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich this summer. With the likes of Henderson and Wijnaldum capable of playing in defensive midfield, the German may well push Fabinho back into defence in emergency situations.
Fabinho’s tackling prowess is one of the best in the Premier League, having made 2.3 tackles per match, while his 6’2’’ frame means he is also strong aerially, winning 60% of his aerial duels in the 2019-20 season.
With his experience and familiarity in defensive situations, Fabinho could prove to be a decent option to provide defensive cover for Lovren.
