Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Battle PSG for Leipzig Defender

Liverpool are expected to be looking to sign a replacement for Dejan Lovren this summer. Liverpool could also be looking for an option who can provide depth at right back. So why not link them to a player who could do both?

That seems to be the idea today in France, where Le10Sport have Liverpool challenging Paris Saint-Germain for 22-year-old French-born RB Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele, said to be valued at around £14M by the Bundesliga side.

Despite Mukiele, who stands over six feet, looking perhaps more like a central defender than fullback, his usual role at Leipzig since joining them from Montpellier in 2018 has been as a fullback or wingback on the right side.

Put it all together—a price that doesn’t seem excessive for a versatile player with upside—and it’s certainly not the most implausible Liverpool link we’ve seen this summer. Still, we remain dubious, at least for the time being.

Mukiele’s age sets him out as a player who will need to start regularly next season to continue his development, and as a rotation centre half and backup right back for Liverpool the minutes he gets would be inconsistent at best.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have their own promising youngster—a three years younger one in Neco Williams—pencilled in as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s backup, and Mukiele is a fairly one-footed player with no history of playing on the left.

Superficially, at least, it’s a reasonable link, but given Liverpool’s financial concerns this summer, Mukiele’s need for minutes, and that cover for left back seems a higher priority, it’s likely this doesn’t amount to anything.