Why Liverpool signing Diego Carlos would be a massive boost
Back in August, a report from Spanish outlet AS (h/t Liverpool Echo) had mentioned Liverpool among the potential suitors for Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos during the summer window. Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal were also understood to be chasing the 27-year-old but the Brazilian ended up staying put in Spain.
The defender was reported to have a massive £68million release clause in his contract but Sevilla were open to accepting bids below that figure amid widespread interest in the Brazilian.
Profile
A youth exponent of Desportivo Brasil, Diego Carlos spent time on loan at Sao Paulo, Paulista and Madureira before moving to Europe with Portuguese outfit Estoril Praia in 2014. He spent the 2014-15 season on loan at FC Porto, featuring only for the reserves, before making his first-team breakthrough at Estoril in the following campaign.
An impressive 2015-16 campaign in the Primeira Liga paved the way for a switch to Nantes and Carlos went on to spend three successful seasons in the French top-flight, making over 100 appearances in all competitions.
The Brazilian then joined Sevilla in the summer of 2019 and enjoyed a fantastic debut season in Spain, featuring 45 times as his club finished 4th in the La Liga and won the UEFA Europa League.
The 27-year-old has continued to be a regular fixture at the back for Julen Lopetegui’s side this season, further enhancing his reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the La Liga.
Carlos would help the Reds cope with Van Dijk’s absence
Liverpool went into the ongoing campaign a tad light in the centre-back department following the departure of Dejan Lovren to Zenit St. Petersburg. However, Jurgen Klopp wasn’t expected to run short of cover at the heart of the defence, with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez competing for places in the ranks.
The Reds, though, currently find themselves reduced to bare bones in their central defensive options. If Van Dijk’s season-ending knee injury against Everton wasn’t already enough to jeopardise Liverpool’s title defense, then the subsequent injuries to Fabinho and Gomez certainly are.
With Joel Matip the only regular senior option fit and ready to play in that department, Klopp now has little option but to experiment with unproven youngsters like Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips when action resumes after the international break.
To put things into perspective, it’s a no-brainer that Liverpool need to go all out for a new centre-back when the market reopens in January and reigniting interest in Diego Carlos would make a lot of sense. Carlos already has top-flight experience in France and Spain, while he also proved his quality en route to Sevilla’s Europa League triumph last season.
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Verdict
Liverpool certainly need to bring in some defensive reinforcements in January to help them cope with injuries to Van Dijk and Gomez. With that in mind, however, the Reds should be careful not to panic-buy their way out of trouble and whoever comes through the door at Anfield needs to be capable enough to compete for places when the accomplished stars return from their respective injuries.
Diego Carlos ticks the box as a centre-back of proven calibre at the highest level in Europe and still has plenty of years remaining in his prime at 27. He looks more than capable of offering Klopp long-term stability at the back, thus making him a lucrative option for Liverpool during the mid-season trading period.
