Fulham can survive the Premier League by signing this Liverpool outcast – Ranieri must get him

Why Fulham should make a move for Liverpool outcast Joel Matip

According to the Sun, Fulham are interested in making the move for Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip. The Cottagers will have renewed hopes after Claudio Ranieri’s appointment as the replacement for Slavisa Jokanovic. The former Leicester City manager defied all odds to lift the Premier League with the Foxes.

The report suggests that Ranieri’s first target is Joel Matip but Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are also said to be in the race for his signature. The Cameroon international has 18 months left on his current Anfield contract but he is arguably the fourth choice central defender at Liverpool.

Ranieri has to prioritise tightening things up at the back for Fulham and that is why he should surely make the move for the 27-year-old defender. Matip has made a total of 59 league appearances for the Reds since arriving from Schalke two years ago.

But the arrival of Virgil Van Dijk and the emergence of Joe Gomez has seen the defender fall down the pecking order. Dejan Lovren has also been preferred over the Cameroon international this season after his improved performances at the World Cup.

Matip would be an ideal option for the Cottagers. He is a calm and assured defender who knows how to go about with the game. Though he has fallen down the order at Anfield, he has barely put in below-par performances for the club.

He is a strong tackler who is also capable of passing the ball from the back with composure. Fulham have leaked a Premier League record total of 31 goals in their 12 games so far. Former manager Slavisa Jokanovic constantly changed his backline, failing to provide them with any sort of understanding or security at the back.

Though Claudio Ranieri is known as the ‘Tinkerman’ for his ever-changing line-ups, the manager is not the one to tamper with his defence. Matip will surely play a regular role under the Italian coach. The defender is also very dominant in the air.

He has scored a total of 3 goals for Liverpool, of which two have came through set-pieces. The defender has also made just 2 errors that have directly lead to a goal and is known for his defensive diligence. He would be an able partner for summer signing Maxime Le Marchand.

Read more: Fulham’s defensive woes would end if they sign this 3-time PL champion – Jokanovic must get him

Fulham should definitely beat their competitiors to the signing of the Cameroon international. The club have been utterly poor at the back this season and if they are to maintain their status as a Premier League club, they definitely need more men.