Liverpool ‘beat’ Man City to transfer of Dutch ‘phenomenon’ as he says ‘yes’ to Klopp
Liverpool have beaten Premier League rivals Manchester City to the signing of Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, according to reports.
The Reds are looking to sign a new defender in the summer transfer window as they look to improve the depth of Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Following a disappointing first two thirds of the season, Klopp decided to make some tweaks to his system which saw Liverpool win seven and draw two of their last nine Premier League matches.
Liverpool flourished with Trent Alexander-Arnold in a hybrid role and now Klopp is looking to bring in a new left-sided central defender to improve the system further still.
Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio, Ajax’s Jurrien Timber, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Wolfsburg Van de Ven are among the centre-backs linked with a move to Liverpool.
READ: Life after Liverpool? Ranking how Klopp’s departees have fared after leaving Anfield…
And now Spanish publication Nacional claim that Liverpool ‘beat’ Man City ‘at auction’ for Van de Ven, who is described as a ‘phenomenon’ by the outlet.
The Netherlands under-21 international has been in brilliant form for Wolfsburg this season after moving to the Bundesliga club in 2021 from Dutch side Volendam.
Liverpool are prepared to pay ‘ten times’ the €3m that Wolfsburg paid to Volendam for Van de Ven with Klopp predicting that he can become the ‘new Van Dijk’.
The Liverpool boss is said to be ‘amazed by the potential’ of the centre-back and the Dutchman has said ‘yes’ to joining Klopp at Anfield.
Man City have also been ‘immersed in the auction’ for the 22-year-old but Liverpool and Klopp now have ‘the advantage’.
Leicester City playmaker James Maddison is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Newcastle, but former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson reckons he “has the class to play for” the Reds or Chelsea.
Johnson told Betfred: “It’s hard to say that any player from a relegated club would be good enough to make the huge jump to playing for one of the top six clubs in the Premier League, but sometimes you can find a few gems. I believe that West Ham United would be over the moon to sign a player like James Ward-Prowse.
“James Maddison is probably the one player from the relegated clubs that has the class to play for a Chelsea or a Liverpool. I doubt they’d be able to do that deal on the cheap because he’s Leicester City’s prized asset and he’s far too good to be playing in the Championship next season.”
READ MORE: Two Liverpool transfers sum up problems of a mid-table team which wishes it could be like Brighton
