The Best Alternatives For Liverpool If They Miss Out On Top Transfer Targets This Summer
Jurgen Klopp will be happy with the way his side ended the previous season but will not be too pleased with the way his side have gone with their business in the transfer market. The Reds have managed to sign the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson for next season but two of their top transfer targets are continuing to elude them this summer.
Southampton defender Vigil van Dijk and RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita are both at the top of the wishlist for Liverpool but it increasingly looks like they might miss out on one or both of those deals.
Van Dijk is interested in a move to Liverpool but an illegal approach from the Anfield outfit has now tied their hands in this transfer. The defender now is training alone and might still be a Liverpool player but Keita, on the other hand, is not close to Anfield.
The Bundesliga outfit have rejected a bid of around €75m recently and are not ready to sell the player to any club before the start of the season. So how should Liverpool go about replacing them? Here are probably the best options for the Reds if they miss out on both their transfer targets.
Replacement for Naby Keita
Jean-Michael Seri (Nice)
Though he not a defensive midfielder, Seri is a similar player to Keita but may be a little less robust. Known for his dribbling and passing abilities, the Ivory Coast international was in impeccable form in Ligue1 for Nice and is already wanted by a number of clubs in England. He is also not as expensive as Keita and at 26, he is slightly more established. He is a bit weak in the air and is also a bit wayward with his tackles. But his work rate will impress Klopp, making him a decent acquisition in the place of Keita.
Replacement for Virgil van Dijk
Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)
Van Dijk will be a little harder to replace but Atletico Madrid star Jose Gimenez could actually turn out to be a stellar signing for Liverpool. Previously linked with a move to Anfield and Old Trafford, the 22-year old is not the first choice at the Vicente Calderon and has less than a year left on his current contract. He will probably cost half of what the Dutch star will for Liverpool and with his attributes perfect for the Premier League, he might be a more than capable alternative for Liverpool if they end up missing out on Van Dijk this summer.