Ian Wright believes Liverpool will regret missing out on Josko Gvardiol this summer and that Jurgen Klopp’s side could have done with signing another top-class defender
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Ian Wright has questioned Liverpool’s decision to pass on a move for Josko Gvardiol and believes the Reds should have signed a world-class defender in the summer.
The Merseyside outfit headed into the transfer window with the goal of completely rebuilding their midfield. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all completed transfers to Anfield, while Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left the club to join clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
Although Liverpool’s engine room was in need of a major upgrade, Wright believes Jurgen Klopp could end up regretting not making a move for Gvardiol, who ended up joining Manchester City in a £77million deal from RB Leipzig.
The 21-year-old defender had previously been linked with a move to Anfield, and Wright believes he would have been the perfect option to bolster Liverpool’s squad - particularly in the wake of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new hybrid role.
He told Premier League Productions: ““If you are going to play with that inverted full-back, then I am not sure Joe Gomez or Joel Matip is the guy. When you look at Liverpool down the years, they have brought in proper defenders. They paid for Virgil van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konate. Andy Robertson. [Kostas] Tsimikas as well. Four players they have paid for, it’s not good enough for a club of that stature and what they are trying to do.
“I feel that Liverpool should have got a real top-end defender - someone like Josko Gvardiol. He was out there. You should try to go in.”
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Ian Wright believes Liverpool missed a trick by not making an offer for Josko Gvardiol this summer (
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Although reports in the build-up to deadline day suggested that Klopp would be open to adding another defender to his squad, Gravenberch was the Reds’ final signing.
However, former Liverpool captain Henderson has insisted that the German is “really happy” with how the team is currently looking.
In an interview with The Athletic, Henderson said: “I saw Jurgen said a few days ago that he’s really happy with the transfer window and he loves his team. Which tells you the players that left, he probably wanted to go and the players that have come in, he probably wanted to sign.
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He also defended Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, adding: “To be honest, I always felt as though they had the best interests of the club at heart. They never take any money out of the club. They invest it all back in the club — whether that’s with the stadium, training ground, players. But at the same time, they’re clever in what they do with the money.”
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