Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is targeting Germany once again as he looks to shore up the team’s defence. The German manager is looking to sign Jonathan Tah, the 20-year-old centre-back from Bayer Leverkusen according to the Mirror.
The Reds currently sit on top of the Premier League and are the top scorers in the division but their defence is porous. The Merseyside club have conceded 14 goals in the league, which is the highest amongst the top seven and have kept just one clean sheet.
Tah is a German international and has been part of the Leverkusen side since 2015. The 20-year-old signed from Hamburg and has nine Bundesliga appearances for the side in the current campaign.
A straight slot into the starting XI?
The defender will face competition for a starting spot in the Liverpool side. The pairing of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip have done well, even though they have conceded goals all season. Liverpool do not have a lot of quality cover for the pair with only Ragnar Klavan as the recognised centre-back and the Reds have often used Lucas Leiva as a makeshift defender, especially in the EFL Cup games.
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The future of Mamadou Sakho at Liverpool would certainly become clearer if Tah is signed up. The former PSG defender has not played for the side this season and is a certainty to leave the side in the summer, if not earlier.
Tah is a physical defender and is known for his ability to intercept the ball. He isn’t the greatest when it comes to passing it out from the back but he does have good ball control.
More Bundesliga talent at Merseyside
Klopp has been known to raid Germany for young talent. The former Borussia Dortmund manager brought in Joel Matip from Schalke and Loris Karius from Mainz, and the pair have slotted seamlessly in the team.
The Reds do need to keep more clean sheets as many pundits fear that this could put a spanner in their Premier League dreams. Liverpool fans will remember the Brendan Rodgers side which went agonisingly close to winning their first Premier League title but missed out due to a porous defence and that infamous game against Chelsea.
Klopp does have links in Germany and if the Reds can pull off this deal, it would ensure they have quality cover for their defence for years to come.
(Video courtesy: Defence is an art’s YouTube channel)
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