:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17094585/151101468.0.jpg)
Rightly or wrongly, Kolo Toure is probably not the central defender of your dreams. That spot should forever be occupied by Daniel Agger and there's not really any debating to be done, though there is a discussion about what's happening with Toure and his spot in Brendan Rodgers' squad. First he's a depth signing, then he's a starter, and all the while he's either a brilliant bit of business or the worst thing to happen to Liverpool since Paul Konchesky's mother got a Facebook account. But with talk of a deal for Kyriakos Papadopoulos growing over the past 24 hours, you might be able to see Toure in a different light yet again, at least until you don't.
Liverpool's interest in the Greek central defender was widely reported earlier in the summer; he was one the first transfer targets with whom the club were strongly linked, and while we eventually moved our affections on to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, we didn't entirely forget about the player or the club's need for another central defender. Despite his recovery from knee surgery he was one of the better center-backs for now and the future that's available this summer, so long as the price was right.
That's where everything reportedly went to pot, with Liverpool rumored to be unwilling to meet Schalke's steep valuation and uncertain as to the condition of Papadopoulos' knee. If the club are back in for him--and according to Greek tabloids sources they are, with a bid set at £13m--it would either be a case of finding a more agreeable cost (which the quoted figure would be) with no further questions about his recovery, or the club recognizing that they're going to need to get some significant business done to appease the frothing masses. As if that would ever happen.
Like everyone else, we spent most of the early summer talking about Papadopoulos, and he's a player that would certainly appear to improve Liverpool at the back for years to come. Commanding and physical with a moderate sized screw loose, he's one that would leave little doubt as to whether or not he was invested in the club's success. He's not the paciest but has plenty of skill and looks to read the game well, and would seemingly partner well with Daniel Agger. In short, one we're likely all hoping comes off.
But for now it's waiting. Waiting and watching.
Video by RatedAre