Wow. Wow, what a day. Two days ago, most people felt it would be a quiet deadline for Liverpool again as they would decide to walk with their wounded until the end of the season. Instead, there were a spate of movements, both incoming and outgoing.
It all started on Sunday when Liverpool clinched their win against West Ham. News began to spread that the Reds wanted to complete a deal near Ben Davies of Preston North End. This was a surprise to everyone, as the 25-year-old has never been mentioned as an explorer, and has never played above the championship level. As the rumors surfaced quickly, and the reconnaissance reports from Preston North End fans rolled it over, it was a good thing, especially after hearing that the Reds Celtic were looking for Davies’ autograph.
THREAD: Ben Davies signs for Liverpool
Fast, mobile, composite defender with left foot. Read danger early, defend calm + is excellent with the ball at his feet.
LFC recruiting knocks again and he can still improve. RTs appreciated. #pnefc # LFC @TheAnfieldWrap @AnfieldIndex
– oli (@gorn__) 1 February 2021
Since the final deal was confirmed, Liverpool have been trying to find someone with more speed than Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips, as well as more first-team experience for a minimal expense (£ 500,000 up front, total prize pool for £ 1.6 million). Liverpool also loaned U23 defender Sepp Van den Berg in the opposite way. The Dutch center-back now has the opportunity to compete for the first team minutes for a medium-sized championship team.
Although a hot body was a hot body to provide support during Liverpool’s defensive injury crisis, news broke that Liverpool were also a second, much more established, center company. The initial whisper was that Liverpool asked about Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car, but then quickly turned to a more well-known name, Ozan Kabak of Schalke 04. The whispers became a roar that the Reds would finalize a 6-month loan deal for the player they were. has been exploring for over a year. It was apparently the firm point whether at the end of the loan there would be a requirement to buy, or whether Liverpool would just get the option. Michael Edwards and co managed to get the final deal in general, with the total loan £ 1 million (which would possibly rise to £ 1.5 million) and the option to buy in June for £ 18 million plus additions . There is no requirement to buy, which apparently makes a trial period of 6 months for a player with a lot of potential.
Of course, this may not all be good news. Just after the Kabak deal was announced as final, Liverpool dropped the devastating news that Joel Matip had been ruled out for the season due to the ankle injury. Matip became the third of three centers of the senior team to be hampered by an injury this season, joining Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the sidelines.
A final surprise put Liverpool fans ahead when it was announced that Jurgen Klopp cosplayer (and current Southampton manager) Ralph Hasenhüttl is interested in Takumi Minamino for the rest of the season. Minamino found it difficult minutes to prevent Liverpool, and with Diogo Jota returning from injury soon, there would be even less chance. While the deal was finalized for a six-month loan without buying an option, Taki had the chance to get a few minutes under his belt for a group playing offensive and urgent football.
This is by far the busiest deadline I can remember for Liverpool. On the face of it, it was a generally good day. With both incoming centers, Liverpool have spent a total of around £ 3 million to get them through the rest of this season.
In the worst case, in Davies they get a player who is likely to be a solid 4th choice option for the club once people like Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip return from injuries. They can also kick the tires without having to buy a 20-year-old with excellent experience to see if he is a defender they want to invest in the long run. And if Kabak is not the man they want in the long run, Liverpool could continue their quest for a player like Ibrahima Konaté in the summer.
At best, Liverpool may have found a diamond in Davies that could be more than the 4th choice, or a player who could at least turn them around for a good win. As for Ozan Kabak, he could be a top defender who could shell out Liverpool at the end of the season for a reduced price if he joins the team well.
Even with all the positive benefits for Davies and Kabak, it is a net loss to lose Joel Matip for the season. That means Fabinho is likely to stay on defense for the rest of the season (once he’s fit again, that is). It also means Liverpool fans are missing out on the amazingly wholesome and comfortable content Matip offers that accompanies his galaxy when he is healthy.
What do you think of the deadline offers? Are you satisfied with the defensive coverage brought in or deflated by the Matip news and the departure of Minamino?