Ahead of the visit of Manchester United in the Premier League, there has been a renewed sense of optimism surrounding Liverpool and their domestic endeavours this season.
Jürgen Klopp’s men have looked imperious in attack, scoring eighteen goals in just seven outings and appear to have identified a balanced midfield trio in Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum. While the latter two face a race against time to recover from muscle injuries for Monday night’s blockbuster clash, Henderson is expected to lead his side out at Anfield for the same, following a spell of consistency in the centre of the park.
The one area that remains a concern for Klopp though, is Liverpool’s backline. For all the prowess they have shown going forward, the Reds have been shaky at the back, conceding ten goals thus far. No side in the top half of the table has shipped in that many goals till now and the fact that Liverpool have failed to keep a single clean sheet in the Premier League highlights that worrying aspect. If the Merseyside club wishes to mount a serious title challenge this year, they must tighten up things at the back.
The same can be reinforced by swooping for defensive marshals in the January transfer window. Amidst a great deal of speculation regarding the club’s potential targets this winter, the one name that appears to have caught the eye is German full-back Jonas Hector. According to the reports from the Mirror, despite James Milner’s utter domination in the left spot, Liverpool still wants to sign a left back and have marked Jonas Hector as a potential target. But this time around, they will be facing a stiff competition from the Italian giants Inter Milan.
Now a regular in the Germany national team, Hector rose to prominence at Bundesliga club, FC Cologne. Having broken into the first team in 2013, the 26-year-old has established himself as an indispensable member of the squad and has risen from strength to strength with every passing season. He has been acclaimed for his ability to read the game and show plenty of promise in positions further up the pitch. The former was well documented at the end of the 2015-16 season, wherein Hector was reported to have blocked 20 crosses in the league, a season high.
Full-backs usually do not rake up a great deal of goals to their name unless they are spot-kick specialists. Hector has managed a respectable total of four goals since his integration into the senior squad and rarely curbs his attacking instincts. His leadership skills at the back too were praised by fans and critics alike, so much so that a German daily in Cologne nicknamed him ‘Mr. Reliable’.
In terms of statistical battles with Liverpool’s current full-backs Alberto Moreno and makeshift defender James Milner, Hector has come out on top in several defensive areas. Having recorded more interceptions and blocks and committed fewer fouls than the Liverpool duo over a span of fourteen months, the German has shown that his defensive intelligence is much better than that of his counterparts. Milner may have deputized well for the out-of-sorts Moreno but whether he is viewed as a full-time replacement for the Spaniard remains to be seen and many may question his consistency over the period of a full season. That aside, Klopp may wish to add some depth to his squad in the defensive department and Hector may be viewed as an ideal fit for his philosophy, given his endearing qualities.
The FC Cologne defender has reportedly attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur as well, although an argument can be laid, stating that the North Londoners have sufficient cover in both full-back positions with British quartet Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Danny Rose. Keeping in mind Tottenham’s sound defensive record this season so far, it is evident Liverpool are more desperate for additions at the back and given the circumstances, they must go out of their way to bring the German to Anfield this winter. The only hindrance may be posed by Cologne’s staggering asking price, reported to be north of 30 million euros.