Andy Robertson is believed to be coming towards the end of his time at Liverpool.placeholder image
Andy Robertson is believed to be coming towards the end of his time at Liverpool. | Getty Images
Liverpool might target a Serie A star as a successor to Andy Robertson at Anfield
Liverpool face an important summer as they look to turn around what has been a disappointing Premier League title defence under Arne Slot this term.
There is still time to make something of the campaign, with the top four still up for grabs and the Reds going well in the Champions League and FA Cup, but the target ahead of next season will be for the 20-time champions to get their foot back into the title race equation after being usurped by all of Arsenal, Manchester City and even Aston Villa this term.
Several areas of the pitch have already stood out as the Reds seek summer reinforcements, with the defence a particular cause for concern after the issues caused by injuries and a lack of cover at points over the season. The question also remains of what to do over the future of Andy Robertson, who is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with an exit in the last two transfer windows.
Liverpool rival Real Madrid for £61m Robertson replacement
Long-term stalwart Robertson sees his Liverpool contract expire this summer and after becoming second-choice behind summer signing Milos Kerkez, the Scotsman is expected to depart as a free agent and has no shortage of suitors.
Replacing Robertson would then become a priority for the Reds, who should aim to have two top-quality players for every position. Loaned-out Kostas Tsimikas is unlikely to be viewed as the answer but as per reports by TEAMtalk, another option has emerged.
Liverpool are thought to be ‘closely monitoring’ Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso, with Real Madrid and Manchester City also targeting the Italy international - the latter of whom have seen links dating back to 2024. The 26-year-old has been a stand-out performer for the Old Lady this season and his versatility is admired – but Juve do not want to sell and have reportedly slapped a price tag of up to €70 million (£61m) on the defender.
Former Juventus boss Igor Tudor, who recently took over at Tottenham Hotspur, predicted such interest in his former player in September of last year. Tudor said in quotes by Football Italia: “Potentially, he’s a player for the best clubs in the world, but it’s up to him to decide.
“He can play at Liverpool, Real Madrid or Manchester City, the top clubs in the world, but he has to say: ‘I’ll get there because every Sunday, I’m the best.’ If he says that, he can go and play there shortly.”
Cambiaso could be the perfect summer signing for Liverpool
It appears that Tudor’s words might be set to come true, with Cambiaso set to be pursued by a trio of Europe’s biggest clubs – and he might be just what Liverpool need.
While Cambiaso has been proven to be a high-quality left-back and more than worthy of competing for a spot with Kerkez at Anfield, it is his versatility which lifts him above other prospective candidates. This season alone, he has featured at left-back, left wing-back and right wing-back, while earlier in his career he has also filled in at right-back, on both wings and in central midfield.
A player with the tactical intelligence of Cambiaso to excel across a range of roles would be priceless to Liverpool, who have severely lacked defensive cover for much of this season. The Italy international would not only be a worthy replacement for Robertson, he could also carry out much of the role Gomez currently has within the squad – with the Englishman’s contract also entering its final 18 months and a decision likely to be made soon.
To spend £61m on a player not guaranteed to start is always a financial risk, but – just ask Arsenal – the benefit of having top-level cover in every position is clear to see, and Cambiaso could just prove to be worth every penny.
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