Andrew Robertson is set to leave Liverpool this summerplaceholder image
Andrew Robertson is set to leave Liverpool this summer | Getty Images
Liverpool have been linked with an exceptional left-back who could replace Andrew Robertson
Liverpool have rather a lot of work to do this summer. Last year’s dealings didn’t work out as expected, and the club have gone from being champions to scraping their way towards a Champions League place – and to put even more pressure on the coming transfer window, their defence direly needs a refresh.
New wing-backs Miloš Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong haven’t found their feet, while the more established players are either ageing or potentially leaving. Or, as is the case with Andrew Robertson, both.
Replacing the Scotsman won’t be an easy task, and Kerkez has yet to live up to his £50m price tag. With Kostas Tsimikas also expected to depart along with Robertson, whose contract expires at the end of June, a new full-back will be essential. Fortunately, reports from Italy suggest that they’ve found a suitable target – but Andrea Cambiaso won’t be easy to sign.
Liverpool are reportedly after Andrea Cambiaso – but will they win the race?
While he isn’t the first journalist to link Liverpool with Cambiaso, Mirko Di Natale has become the latest to connect the Juventus full-back with a move to Anfield – but they aren’t the only team said to be in the bidding.
Di Natale also puts Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Napoli and both Milan sides in the mix – a blend of teams said to have been monitoring the 26-year-old for some time and others who haven’t been suggested as suitors quite so often.
Cambiaso is contracted until 2029 and isn’t at the top of the list of players that Juventus want to sell, but the Italian giants are struggling financially and need to raise at least £25m to stay in the black this summer, meaning that their entire squad is effectively up for sale if the right bid comes in. For a side like Liverpool, striking a deal shouldn’t prove to be unrealistic.
The likely asking price changes depending on which reports you read. Yahoo! Sports suggests that €35m (£30m) would be sufficient, while other stories from Italy suggest that €50m (£43m) would be required. Given his importance to Juventus, the latter price tag sounds a little more plausible.
The biggest barrier for Liverpool is unlikely to be negotiations over the fee, but could be the sheer volume of interest from other sides. They can outmuscle the other Serie A sides when it comes to wages, which gives them a crucial advantage there, but sides like Barcelona and Manchester City might be tougher to compete with.
Manchester City were heavily linked with Cambiaso last summer before signing Rayan Aït-Nouri instead, and the strength in depth they have at left-back might keep them out of the market – but Cambiaso is more than capable of playing on the right and could be an alternative target if they fail to agree a deal for Valentino Livramento, while both Nico O’Reilly and Joško Gvardiol could potentially be moved to other positions, creating the need for a player like the Italian.
Liverpool have a promising combination of a clear need and the financial power to get a deal done if they do enter the market, however, and more plausible favourites if they decide he’s their best bet to replace Robertson. But would he be good enough to do the job required?
Cambiaso is a fine player – but is he what Liverpool need?
At Juventus, Cambiaso has made his name less as a full-back than a wing-back – a dynamic playmaker first, and a defender second. If that’s what Liverpool need, then he’d be a strong candidate for the job.
An excellent passer with impressive vision and range, Cambiaso also has the technique and dribbling skills to get into positions to spark attacks quickly, making him an impressive outlet down the flanks – and is a rare example of genuinely two-footed player. Able to come inside and outside according to the situation, he’s difficult for opposing players to anticipate.
Where he can be less impressive is in his defensive work. He’s strong in one-on-one situations and judges tackles well, but has a reputation for positional lapses and allowing too much space in behind him – and for switching off on occasion, leading to a higher volume of mistakes than some coaches might be comfortable with.
That skillset would make him an intriguing addition to Liverpool’s squad. While the signings of both Kerkez and Frimpong hinted at the desire to add width and attacking aggression in the full-back position, Arne Slot has used his wide defenders surprisingly conservatively this season, often reigning them in and seemingly asking them not to surge downfield too far or too often.
If Slot stays on as Liverpool coach and Cambiaso is signed, the current system might not play to his strengths, although his quality on the ball and his accurate passing means that he would still offer a very stable base of possession if he was played in a deeper, less attacking role.
His versatility will also appeal to Liverpool. Cambiaso typically plays on the left but is just as comfortable down the right flank, making full use of his comfort with both feet. From the perspective of building a squad, his capacity to cover multiple positions will help a considerable amount over a long season.
We’ll soon find out whether the reports linking Liverpool with Cambiaso are accurate or not, and whether they can position themselves at the front of the queue to sign him. If they do, they’ll be getting an excellent player – but one whose weaknesses will make him feel like a liability if he isn’t used correctly.
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