Are Liverpool already regretting not signing Alessio Romagnoli? – TBR View

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Liverpool eventually got players over the line this summer, making moves to bring in Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota to bolster their attacking and midfield options.

The Reds also signed Kostas Tsimikas as a back-up for Andy Robertson, as Jurgen Klopp made the moves to ensure his team can once again have a good go at winning the league title.

However, things haven’t gone quite so smoothly for the Reds as yet. a 7-2 loss at Aston Villa last week was the icing on the cake for a shakey start which has included conceding three goals at home to Leeds United. To say that there are some defensive worries at Anfield, then, would be an understatement.

Liverpool were linked with a host of defenders in the summer, too. Kalidou Koulibaly was continually mentioned, while a reported £54m bid was being considered for Italian centre-half, Alessio Romagnoli.

That bid was never followed through on, with Klopp trusting he had enough in Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, and Joel Matip.

But after the start the Reds have had, is the lack of a move for Romagnoli going to prove costly in the coming months? It could well prove to be.

Strength in depth

Let it be said, in no way are this Liverpool team done for and in no way are they in a crisis. The game at Villa may be a one-off, although some would argue the signs were there for this sort of thing to happen defensively.

Gomez and Van Dijk were so good last season that Klopp will have just assumed business as usual this term. And it might well turn out that way.

But in adding a player like Romagnoli, the Reds boss would have ensured his main two men remained on their toes. That, and the fact that Romagnoli has played at the highest level and comes from the defensive background so renowned with Italians.

Of course, over £50m on a defender who might not have played every week is big money. But the Reds are the title holders, and it’s important not to stand still.

Time will, obviously, tell with this deal. But one can’t help but think missing out on Romagnoli might prove to be a bit of a regret for the Reds.