Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Joel Matip might not be released after suffering a season-ending ACL injury, hinting at the possibility of the player receiving further support or a new contract from the club.
Matip’s recent ACL injury, which typically requires a recovery period of seven to ten months or more, ensures that he won’t return to play until after his current contract at Anfield expires in June. This situation prompted discussions about whether this injury marks the end of Matip’s tenure at Liverpool or if he might face unemployment while still in the recovery phase by summer.
Addressing the media, Klopp appeared to reject the notion of letting Matip go at the contract’s end, expressing that the player deserves additional support and implying a potential extension.
“I’m pretty sure the club will show their class, just as they should,” Klopp affirmed. “He deserves all the support from us, and he will get it.”
While Klopp voiced his opinion that Matip merits a new deal, he clarified that the decision isn’t in his hands, stating, “I cannot sign the papers.”
Liverpool had initially foregone signing a new centre-back this season due to promising talent from their youth ranks, including Jarell Quansah. However, Matip’s injury, coupled with Joe Gomez’s versatile role as a depth player, has raised concerns about the team’s defensive depth.
Sources reveal that Liverpool intended to recruit a centre-back in the summer of 2024 but are contemplating advancing this plan to the January transfer window. Potential candidates such as Goncalo Inacio, Lucas Beraldo, Piero Hincapie, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Arthur Theate were under consideration, but the urgency has prompted a reassessment of names and timing, considering player availability in January.
Among the alternatives, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah emerges as a feasible option, while Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo are also on Liverpool’s radar. The club remains open to exploring additional prospects to reinforce their squad.
The injury to Matip has triggered Liverpool’s reevaluation of their defensive options, prompting discussions and a potential revision of their transfer plans to bolster the team’s defensive setup.
