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After the record signing of centre-back Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton, Liverpool’s defence has improved significantly. Players like Lovren, Matip, and Gomez have stepped up their game since the defender’s arrival. But even after improving their game significantly this season, Van Dijk’s fellow defenders have struggled this season in terms of injuries. This forced Klopp to play the likes of Fabinho and Henderson in the centre-back position. Just a few days ago, Klopp had to risk playing Fabinho alongside Matip against the formidable attacking trio of Lewandowski, Coman, and Gnabry as Van Dijk was suspended for the game. All this must have made Klopp think about signing a new defender in the summer transfer window.
Virgil Van Dijk is having a great season with Liverpool. But the Holland international has not been able to form a great partnership with any other centre-back at Liverpool due to various injury issues to his fellow teammates. At the start of the season, it looked like Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk were forming a formidable partnership at centre-back. Just when everyone thought Liverpool had got their perfect defensive pair in Van Dijk and Gomez, Liverpool recently lost Joe Gomez for almost three months. Since then, Matip and Lovren have been in and out of this Liverpool team through illness and injuries.
With injuries to the likes of Trent Alexander Arnold, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip, at times Klopp was even forced to play Firmino at right-back when all his options were either injured or had been suspended. To add to the defensive depth of the Liverpool team, the Reds’ boss should be eyeing a move for Fiorentina center-back Nikola Milenkovic.
The Serbian is having a great season in the Serie A. He has been Fiorentina’s standout performer this season. The centre back has a similar style of play to Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk. He has a great height which makes him strong in the aerial department. The 21-year-old seems to be the perfect player to partner Van Dijk at Liverpool next season. The defensive duo of Van Dijk and Milenkovic can make the Liverpool defence very difficult to penetrate. And with Alisson playing behind these two world-class centre backs, it will be almost impossible to score against Liverpool. The Serbian can make the Liverpool defence stronger than ever. He is one of the fittest players in the world and very calm on the ball.
The Merseyside team can fund a move for the Serbian by selling one of their injury-prone centre backs like Matip or Lovren. Milenkovic can also form a very good partnership with fellow 21-year-old Joe Gomez. This can keep away any defensive issues at Liverpool for a very long time. Joe Gomez is one of the best young centre-backs in the country. The signing of Milenkovic can provide healthy competition for Gomez and can improve his game. A healthy and improved Gomez will be beneficial for both England and Liverpool.
