Liverpool hold concrete interest in 25-year-old Premier League defender

Liverpool are firmly interested in signing Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan this summer.

The Reds are currently in the market for a new left-sided defender, but reports so far have focused this mainly on centre-backs. However, according to Football Transfers, a left-back may also be on the agenda.

They claim that Liverpool have ‘concrete interest’ in Estupinan, and see him as perfect long-term replacement for Andy Robertson.

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images for Premier League

If things had turned out differently, it’s even reported that the 25-year-old could already have been a Liverpool player. The Reds were reportedly offered the chance to sign Estupinan last summer, while dealing with the agent of then target Carlos Soler.

At the time though, Jurgen Klopp was reportedly happy with Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas for the season. Now though, with there said to have been an ‘assessment of Robertson’s fitness situation,’ things are claimed to have changed.

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This has supposedly led to interest in Estupinan being ramped up.

Although there is claimed to be strong interest this summer, it’s also reported that Liverpool may wait until January before making a move.

Liverpool targeting Estupinan

At this stage, this really isn’t a priority for Liverpool. Although Robertson has come in for some criticism over pre-season, that’s more a case of adjusting to the demands of the new system.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold moving in-field from right-back, the Reds could do with their left-back tucking in. Instead, Robertson has carried on doing what he always does: bombing on relentlessly.

This had no doubt contributed to Liverpool looking much more open at the back than a lot of fans are comfortable with.

Nevertheless, there has been no question marks over the 29-year-old’s fitness. Robbo will turn 30 next year but has always been one of the fittest players in the squad.

In Tsimikas, Klopp has an able back-up who can step in if necessary. Although there are some doubts as to whether he can step up once Robertson does eventually leave.

So, as an eventual replacement for Robbo, maybe Estupinan could make some sense. The £15m man had a great debut season at Brighton, even being named in the Premier League Team of the Season by Gary Neville [Daily Star].

But at this stage of the transfer window, the last thing we need is to become embroiled in negotiations with Brighton. Depending on how things play out with Robertson, maybe we can table this until January at least.