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Liverpool recently ended their 30-year wait for a top-flight title by winning the Premier League after an astonishing 2019-20 campaign. As the players soak in the glory of the league title, a few of their teammates are likely to leave the club this summer in search of regular playing time.
Dejan Lovren is believed to be one of these players as reports suggest that the Croatian defender is close to joining Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg in a deal worth around £11 million. Since joining in 2014, Lovren has gone on to make 185 appearances for the Reds.
Although the World Cup finalist got a bit of stick from Liverpool fans for dropping occasional clangers, he continued to regularly feature for the Merseysiders under Jurgen Klopp.
The arrival of Virgil van Dijk in 2018 and the rise of Joe Gomez has, however, seen Lovren fall down the pecking order at Anfield.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will be looking to improve their defensive depth, especially since Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have struggled with their share of injuries in recent seasons.
However, the Premier League champions are unlikely to spend much this summer, especially on a defender who would likely have to contend with being the 4th choice.
In this article, we look at the budget options and academy youngsters that Liverpool could promote to restore their defensive depth next season.
5 budget replacements for Liverpool's Dejan Lovren
#5 Ben White
The only player on this list who is likely to cost Liverpool some money, Ben White is an exciting young English defender who helped Leeds United gain promotion to the Premier League. The 22-year-old defender spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Elland Road from parent club Brighton and Hove Albion.
The young Englishman, who has been with the Seagulls since 2016, had his breakthrough campaign in the Championship this season, playing every single minute and helping his temporary employers join England’s elite after 16 long years.
White is quite versatile and can easily slot into the right-back position or in defensive midfield. As a result, the big boys have taken note of his talents, with the youngster now mooted as one of the possible candidates to replace Dejan Lovren at Liverpool. Although the Brighton man wouldn’t come cheap, he has age on his side and could develop into a top player under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp.
#4 Malang Sarr
Malang Sarr is yet another high-potential French defender who could become a household name in the coming years. The young starlet would be a high-value addition for any side this summer since he is available on a free after leaving Nice on June 30.
Sarr is an adept reader of the game, having made 1.9 interceptions per game while boasting an impressive passing accuracy of 90.4% this season, with both metrics being integral to the way Liverpool operate under Klopp. The bonus of not having to pay a transfer fee for the youngster could prove quite enticing for the Reds.
Despite being only 21, the Frenchman has been a regular for Nice in the past four seasons, making a total of 119 appearances during that time. With Liverpool lacking a left-footer in their backline, Sarr can also deputise for Andy Robertson in the left-back slot.
#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.
