{"id":96602,"date":"2023-11-27T06:24:29","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T06:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=96602"},"modified":"2023-11-27T06:24:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T06:24:29","slug":"liverpool-have-contract-issue-if-klopp-fails-to-produce-goods-in-january","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/soccer\/liverpool-have-contract-issue-if-klopp-fails-to-produce-goods-in-january\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool have contract issue if Klopp fails to produce goods in January"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jurgen Klopp has a hitlist of priorities to address in the January transfer window, but it may transpire to be a contract situation which he has known about for many months which causes the most bother.<\/p>\n

After a busy summer of totally rebuilding a midfield, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo as a quartet of recruits in the heart of the pitch, other priorities are now pressing.<\/p>\n

Namely, Klopp must resolve the concerning situation regarding gaps in his defensive back line, while setting a blueprint for the future.<\/p>\n

Already this season Liverpool have lost Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson to injury, with the latter facing several months on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Youngster Jarell Quansah has already shown his credentials as a first team prospect, despite only being 20-years-old. The England youth star has already been likened to Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk and tipped as a regular for the future, but for the time being Klopp needs to move fast.<\/p>\n

An emerging problem however comes in the form of an alarming lack of centre back quality on the market. That, and the fact Liverpool stalwart Joel Matip is out of contract next summer and is poised to leave Anfield for free.<\/p>\n

Should no offer be placed on the table of the Cameroon star, Matip will be able to begin talks with overseas clubs in January and sign a pre-contract agreement. The 32-year-old remains a dominant force at the back and is not without a host of suitors.<\/p>\n

Pressure is now on Klopp to either ensure Liverpool have a central defensive prospect lined up for the turn of the year, or begin to persuade the powers that be in the FSG boardroom to offer Matip extended terms.<\/p>\n

Last summer Liverpool were linked with Croatian international Josko Gvardiol, who ultimately signed for Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s side met the eye-watering \u00a377m release clause of the youngster.<\/p>\n

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Since, Liverpool have been reportedly sniffing around Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio, and also hold a long-standing interest in Torino centre back Per Schuurs.<\/p>\n

Convincing Matip to stay for a while longer, however, may be Klopp’s biggest and most important task in recent times.<\/p>\n