The 2017/18 football season is nearing its closure and the World Cup next month has engaged the clubs to transfer activities early. Liverpool too are not far behind compared to their league counterparts and would be weighing up moves for several top talents across Europe’s best football leagues.
The winter transfer window witnessed philippe Coutinho’s high-profile transfer to Barcelona from Liverpool, however, these two European heavyweights are reportedly set to open talks once more in coming days – this time the other way around.
The 23-year-old Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina is being linked with a move to Anfield on a season-long loan deal after failing to break into Barcelona’s first-team following his €11.8m January transfer from Palmeiras. The highly-rated youngster has made only five appearances for the Catalan giants and has a release clause of €100m.
Liverpool are having an incredible campaign but have often struggled with injuries. The shallowness of the squad has impacted the outcome in recent weeks.
The Reds’ defensive frailty was solved to some extent after Virgil van Dijk’s introduction but the Dutchman needs a more stable partner than Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren, and the profile of working under Jurgen Klopp might benefit Mina to flourish as a top defensive prodigy for years to come.
Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have been injury prone. Also, the latter has not featured yet as a regular central defensive option. Ragnar Klavan, 32, is only good as a backup whereas Dejan Lovren has been erroneous time and again. Klopp, therefore, is likely to strengthen his backline furthermore and the 6ft 5in centre-back will increase the defensive depth if a deal is completed this summer.
The Barcelona board opted to bring him to Camp Nou and the Colombian international has failed to grab the attention ahead of Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and also veteran Thomas Vermaelen, who has been utilised as the backup to the first-team duo. If Barcelona reinvest in the market for more defensive options, Mina will go further down the pecking order next season.
The Cafeteros centre-back is set for a starting role in the upcoming World Cup competition and both Barcelona and Liverpool will keep close tabs on how he performs in the tournament.
His physicality as well as aerial dominance make him a perfect fit for Klopp’s system and his ability to build the game from the back will certainly allow him to make strides at Merseyside.
The loan deal, meanwhile, is the most suited option for both the clubs and the player’s camp must appreciate the move to forget a bitter winter.
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