Liverpool are expected to explore the possibilities of a central defensive signing in January as Jurgen Klopp attempts to ease his defensive injury woes.
Klopp was recently handed a major double blow as last season’s centre-half partnership Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both picked up potentially season-ending problems.
One of the options thought to be high on the list of targets is Ajax youngster Perr Schuurs, who Liverpool have faced twice in the Champions League this season.
Schuurs is a 21-year-old Dutch powerhouse who signed for the Eredivisie leaders in 2018 from Fortuna Sittard – where he shone in the second tier whilst scoring long-range free kicks – and has since gone from strength to strength.
Born in the city of Nieuwstadt, Schuurs has enjoyed a rise to prominence this season, making 14 appearances at the heart of the Ajax defence.
The Reds were also linked with a move for the Dutch under-21 defender prior to his Ajax switch, but as so often is the case he stayed in his homeland to continue his development at Ajax, seemingly a breeding ground for stars of the future.
However, with the current supply and demand calling for defensive reinforcements, Klopp could well go back for Schuurs, who was outstanding up against Sadio Mane on Tuesday night.
Mane is a pacey, powerful and tricky winger but the Ajax youngster coped admirably where many a more experienced operator has failed before, showing his own pace and power on numerous occasions.
Shortly before half-time, the Dutchman was booked for a foul on the Senegalese star, but this was a minor blot on an otherwise impressive outing as the Liverpool man got little joy from his opponent. Should Klopp need further confirmation over the potential deal, it seems likely his own left-sided attacker would endorse the move.
With Ajax reportedly asking for £27m for their 6’3 youngster, the Reds’ recruitment team may be gearing up for a raid on Amsterdam in the coming weeks.
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Whilst Liverpool would normally wait to watch a player such as Schuurs develop further before making a move, the club haven’t got time to waste with the severity of their current injury situation.
Were it possible to ensure Joel Matip and Fabinho would remain fit for the remainder of the season, with able backups in Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips, the Reds could perhaps get by without a January arrival. However, Matip in particular has a pitiful injury record and unfortunately cannot be relied upon for a prolonged run of matches.
Therefore, given his potential, performances and relatively small asking piece by comparison to previous incarnations making big switches from the Dutch giants, Schuurs could well be the chosen one to walk through the door at Anfield in the upcoming transfer window.
