3 Defenders Who Could Have Been A Better Option For Liverpool Than Ragnar Klavan

Jurgen Klopp’s quest for a centre back has ended at Ragnar Klavan

. The Estonian completed the medical on Tuesday and will join Liverpool before the squad leaves for the US pre-season tour. Liverpool have Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip as their first choice centre backs. Mammadou Sakho’s ban is still uncertain and a recent heel injury has sidelined him for almost 6 weeks. Also, Martin Skrtel is all set to join Fenerbache and Kolo Toure has been released by the club. So Liverpool have only two centre backs in the senior team. To balance this, Liverpool needed a centre back urgently and Ragnar Klavan is a good option. Liverpool had also been linked with Neven Subotic and Niklas Sule. So could Liverpool have looked for better options before signing Ragnar Kalvan? Here are three better centre backs that Liverpool could have signed in place of Ragnar Klavan.

1.) Neven Subotic

The former Jurgen Klopp favourite was linked with Liverpool after he confirmed that he wanted to leave Dortmund. Subotic was Klopp’s first choice centre back when he managed Dortmund. Subotic managed only 6 appearances last season for Borussia Dortmund owing to injuries and inconsistency. Lack of game time over the previous two seasons hs probably prompted his decision of leaving Dortmund. Subotic is a very stable centre back and he reads the game well. The best part of his game is his concentration. Subotic quickly tracks the runs of opposition forwards. Also, Subotic’s height and built helps him deal with aerial threat and can also score goals through set pieces. Subotic’s reunion with Klopp would have been great for Liverpool.

2.) Niklas Sule

The 20-year-old German centre back was amongst the top defenders last season in the Bundesliga. Niklas Sule plays for Hoffenhiem and had a terrific season. He made 33 appearances and was consistent with his performances. The young German was heavily linked with Liverpool in May. Sule’s tackle timing is one of the best in Bundesliga. On an average, he managed 2 successful tackles per game. Sule reads the game well and is good at making interceptions. Also, he does not hesitate in using his body to make blocks and is good at blocking shots. Sule often makes clearances and defends set pieces well. Had Liverpool signed Niklas Sule, he would have had his best years under Klopp.

3.) Scott Dann

Scott had an impressive season at Crystal Palace and has been eyed by top Premier League clubs. Scott Dann made 35 appearances for Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season. He scored 5 goals and was amongst the leading goal-scoring defenders. Dann was stable at the centre back position, making interceptions and tackles. At 6’2″ he provides physical presence in the opposition’s as well as his own box. He can defend set pieces well and also provides an aerial threat while attacking set pieces. He is composed on the ball and he reads the game well. He is just a year younger to Ragnar but provides a bit more while defending than the Estonian. Dann too would have been a better signing.