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Signing Nathaniel Clyne emphasized Liverpool's intention to add depth to the fullback position this summer. The position had become a bit barren with the departure of Glen Johnson and ongoing injury problems for Jon Flanagan and Jose Enrique, so it made sense to add a starting caliber player to the mix. After the Clyne addition, many satisfied supporters expected the club to move on to address other aspects of the team.
Instead, it appears that Liverpool will tinker with a key part of the fullback rotation -- reports from the Guardian indicate that the club will move to end 21-year-old right back Javier Manquillo's two-year loan from Atletico Madrid one season early.
Manquillo fell out of favor with Brendan Rodgers in the second half of last season and only made three appearances in 2015. However, he's young and is battle tested in two of the best leagues in the world. Moreover, he's shown himself to be a defensive force, and even if his attacking development continues to lag behind the rest of his game, his defensive ability is an invaluable asset for a team hungry for fullback depth.
Cutting Manquillo's loan deal short doesn't make much sense -- he's a young, cheap fullback who can defend, and Liverpool need that kind of player to maintain proper defensive depth out wide. To let him go would be a big mistake.
