Liverpool were a whisker away from claiming the Champions League title but Real Madrid ultimately got the job done, winning the game 3-1 on the night. Loris Karius endured a nightmarish final, as he was held responsible for two of Madrid’s goals. The goalkeeper was utterly disappointed with his performance and pleaded for forgiveness from the travelling Liverpool fans.
The result has surely left a mark in the minds of Liverpool fans, but football is football and there’s always a chance to win again.
However, reinforcements are needed and Jurgen Klopp has been quite busy in the transfer window. The German has already brought in Fabinho and Naby Keita, and was also gunning for a move to sign Nabil Fekir from Lyon. But the deal failed to happen, with reports stating that Liverpool had demanded to lower the fee due to a medical issue. That ceased negotiations between the two clubs but the Reds still need a creative player.
Given the circumstances, Klopp could benefit by targetting Real Madrid sensation Marco Asensio. The midfielder didn’t start the game against Liverpool in the Champions League final but he came on as the game progressed. The 22-year-old has been in spectacular form for Los Blancos lately, chipping in with 6 goals and 6 assists last season.
The Spanish international is surely one for the future. But is another attacking midfielder really necessary for Liverpool? They seemed to have done fairly well without him.
What Liverpool really need is a new goalkeeper and a centre-back. Dejan Lovren has been inconsistent and Karius’ performance against Real is enough to suggest he won’t be trusted between the sticks anytime soon. Thus, here are two options Liverpool could consider this summer.
Jan Oblak (Goalkeeper)
Oblak is one of the most underrated goalkeepers out there. The Slovenian international is surely alongside David De Gea and Manuel Neuer with the level of his performances. He made 37 appearances in the league last season, maintaining 21 clean sheets in the process. The goalkeeper averaged 2.41 saves per game and boasts a claim success rate of 91%.
He would certainly be a superb addition to the Liverpool squad. He is a brilliant shot-stopper and his reflexes are out of this world. He has come to Atletico Madrid’s rescue a countless number of times. Klopp should seriously consider making the move for the Slovenian since he could make a huge difference.
Kalidou Koulibaly (Centre-Back)
The Napoli defender joined the club in 2014 and has slowly made his name as one of the hottest prospects in Europe. He is from France but plies his trade with the Senegalese national team. Koulibaly made 35 appearances in the Serie A last season, scoring 5 goals and providing 1 assist. Those are impressive numbers for a centre-half.
With Lovren proving to be a hit-and-miss signing so far, Klopp must sign Koulibaly. The 26-year-old would surely be a great partner to Virgil van Dijk and they could completely transform the Liverpool defence.
