EXCL: Liverpool pushing for €22m Belgium ‘defending machine’ to replace Gomez & Matip

As Liverpool looks to make an immediate return to the Premier League’s top four this season, Jurgen Klopp is still hoping to bolster his squad before the summer transfer market closes.

So far, the Reds have only seen Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai in first-team action, with Wataru Endo joining them this week.

They appear to have shifted their focus to a Ligue 1 defender.

What’s the latest on Arthur Theate’s arrival in Liverpool?

Liverpool are interested in signing Stade Rennais defender Arthur Theate this summer, according to L’Équipe via Get Football News France, as they want to add another centre-back.

The Merseyside club isn’t alone in their pursuit of the Ligue 1 player, with Fulham also interested in welcoming him in the coming weeks.

Having only joined Rennes last summer for a reputed €19 million (£16 million) from Bologna, it remains to be seen whether Theate would be able to leave the French club so quickly.

According to Transfermarkt, the Belgian is only worth €22 million (£19 million), making a deal more than realistic should Liverpool pursue their interest.

Liverpool are a club to keep an eye on with little under two weeks left in the transfer window.

Should the Reds sign Arthur Theate?

Given that Joel Matip is entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, Theate would be a wise investment for the club. The 23-year-old is a far younger alternative than Matip, who is 32, giving the Reds a man with lots of room to adjust and eventually enhance their side.

With Joe Gomez’s injury troubles and Matip’s age, it appears that signing a center defender is a must for Klopp this summer. In the last three seasons, the England international has missed 44 games, making him an untrustworthy choice at Anfield.

Gomez’s constant absence, on the other hand, could pave the way for Theate, who has gotten plenty of acclaim during his very short career, particularly from Serie A expert Conor Clancy.

“He’s almost like a throwback in how he approaches defending,” Clancy said last summer on Football FanCast. He’s a little in your face, and he may be a little aggressive – I wouldn’t be surprised if he bit someone.

“He’s just an ugly defender; you’d hate to play against him because he might smack you.” But he can play when he has the ball. In that sense, he’s a modern defense coupled with an old school defender – I like him.”

Statistically, the Rennes player excelled Gomez in several areas during the previous season.