It proved to be a very up-and-down year for the Reds, who came on leaps and bounds under Jurgen Klopp but struggled to find any kind of consistency. They managed to reach two cup finals, however they couldn’t get over the line. Losing the Europa League final against Sevilla was a devastating way to end the season, but there are still plenty of reasons to feel very positive about the future. Signing Jurgen Klopp as their manager, however, was their victory of the season. It’s possibly the best thing the club did this season.
Next season will be very crucial for Liverpool, Klopp will get his time with his squad, he can play his own systems and get a good pre-season in. The Reds have already signed Sadio Mane from Southampton last week, however they are still on the look-out for players who can improve the overall quality of the team. With Jose Enrique set to leave the club, and Brad Smith providing little in terms of regular competition for current first choice Alberto Moreno, Jurgen Klopp is targeting a new left-back ahead of 2016/17.
One player who has recently been linked with Liverpool is the German international Jonas Hector. The left-back is currently on national duty with the German national team at the Euro 2016, where he been highly consistent in producing solid performances. Although he has admitted that although he is happy at the FC Koln, he would find it difficult to say no to Klopp, if he came calling. Hector is thought to be available for around £6.2 million this summer, and if Liverpool opt to move for the Germany international, he could be a bargain addition.
Hector has been excellent at FC Koln, where they often play a system geared towards counter attacking and in those circumstances it’s excellent to have some with stature of 6’1 defending your goal. When Germany won the World Cup in 2014, Hector hadn’t played a single minute of Bundesliga football, but two years on with hard work and attitude, he Is in Germany’s starting XI and a target for top European clubs.
At 6’1″ tall, Hector is also dominant aerially, and this may appeal to Klopp as he looks to vary his options at left-back. He is an excellent crosser of the ball, though he doesn’t shy away from taking on defenders one on one. He is eager to get down the pitch, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Tall and strong, Hector is a defensively sound, tactically astute left-back with the versatility to thrive in a number of systems.
The German is very reliable at the back and keeps his focus. He’s very much a defence first left-back but this doesn’t prevent him from getting forward and supporting the attack. If Klopp can get the German to Anfield for a fee of £6.2 million, then he will surely be in the running for the bargain of the season. He can fill a variety of roles in Klopp’s plans for the future.