It’s been a frustrating season for a Liverpool side who started with aspirations and expectations of retaining their hard-won Premier League title.
But Arne Slot’s side have been a shell of that team, losing nine of 12 matches in all competitions across the autumn.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Arsenal’s lead at the top is unassailable, for Liverpool, in any case. However, this remains a team laden with elite talent, and the pursuit of glory in the FA Cup and Champions League is very much on.
But the Reds are undoubtedly fragile in defence, and that needs sorting before the end of the January transfer window.
How Liverpool plan to fix their defence
Marc Guehi remains a top target, but FSG are understandably reluctant to meet Crystal Palace’s valuation, in excess of £35m, for a player months away from free agency.
With any number of top teams also keen on the Three Lions centre-back, sporting director Richard Hughes has earmarked an alternative.
Liverpool’s issues at the back, after all, are aggravated by the likely departure of Ibrahima Konate on a free contract at the end of the season.
But according to TEAMtalk, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck is very much on the Reds’ radar, and they've received quite the boost in their pursuit.
nico-schlotterbeck-borussia-dortmund
Valued at around £50m, the German has also been targeted by Real Madrid, but with Los Blancos cooling their interest, it can be said that the Anfield club have emerged as the new frontrunners.
How Schlotterbeck would fit in at Liverpool
With Giovanni Leoni sidelined with a long-term knee injury, Konate set to leave and skipper Virgil van Dijk turning 35 at the end of the season, Liverpool's backline needs to be remanned with elite new parts.
nico-schlotterbeck-borussia-dortmund
Nico Schlotterbeck for Borussia Dortmund.
Schlotterbeck, 26, is one of the most dynamic centre-halves in the game right now, having been hailed as an "absolute beast" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his wicked mix of physical, technical and defensive strengths.
If Liverpool lose Konate on a free transfer this summer, it will be a blow to Slot's defensive depth. But given the Frenchman's catastrophic blunders throughout the season, perhaps the Dortmund star would prove a swift upgrade, potentially even keeping him out of the team over the coming months, should Liverpool act now.
Konate vs Schlotterbeck (League Comparison 25/26)
Stats (per 90)
Goals
Assists
Touches
Pass completion (%)
Progressive passes
Shot-creating actions
Progressive carries
Ball recoveries
Tackles + interceptions
Clearances
Aerial duels won
Data via FBref
Konate was criticised earlier this season for his "horrible" build-up play by analyst Raj Chohan. Liverpool have keenly felt the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, and Konate more than most.
Curtis Jones has been tasked with drifting back and adding a dimension to Liverpool's backline when at the start of a forward move.
Schotterbeck solves that tactical conundrum, filling a hole that has been designated for Palace's Guehi but might instead suit the German's ability on the ball.
This is a defender who has honed their skills over the past several years in his homeland and would add a different flavour to Liverpool's backline. He's also left-footed, and so could feasibly replace Van Dijk when that day comes.
As per Sofascore, he's also won 72% of his ground duels in the Bundesliga this term while managing to avoid a single mistake that led to a shot or goal. This is in stark contrast to Konate in the Premier League, who has made four of such errors from 21 matches.
Guehi would be the more desirable signing for Liverpool this year, for sure, but Schlotterbeck is some player. The English game does not know him yet, but they would if he joined Slot's squad this year.
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace career
He's riding a bigger wave than Konate, and he's more tactically attuned to the way in which Slot wants to play. But, moreover, Schlotterbeck might be the perfect Guehi alternative side for Liverpool.
Conor-Bradley-1 Related
[Liverpool ready move to sign "very exciting" Bradley upgrade](https://www.footballfancast.com/liverpool-now-ready-to-sign-bradley-upgrade-givairo-read/ "Liverpool ready move to sign "very exciting" Bradley upgrade")
Liverpool are interested in signing a right-back following a season-ending injury to Conor Bradley.