Liverpool fans are still on cloud nine following their stunning opening day victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, where they scored four brilliant goals and held out for a fourth straight win on day one of the season.
However, there were still plenty of reasons to be concerned after the win. Left-back Alberto Moreno put in another bizarre performance, giving away a penalty and affording Theo Walcott the freedom of the right-hand side of the Gunners’ pristine pitch to fire Arsenal in front.
Moreno had already irked supporters enough in his last Reds performance, the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla, but many have considered his latest blunders to be the final straw, demanding he be replaced. Thankfully, after their failure to sign Jonas Hector, the Reds have been linked with a different left back; Real Madrid and Portugal defender Fabio Coentrao.
Heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the past, Coentrao is well out of the first team picture at Madrid and spent last season on loan at Monaco. A move for the 28-year-old looks likely considering he is not in Zinedine Zidane’s plans.
Liverpool fans shouldn’t get too excited though. For one, Coentrao is likely to demand high wages as a result of his time in the Spanish capital. Secondly, thanks to his age, the Portuguese is not going to be a long term fix for their dilemma. But most importantly, Coentrao is out until October with a hamstring injury, and would still leave the Reds without an immediate replacement for Moreno.
Although Coentrao could have represented a tidy quick fix option on loan, his injury problems and complications with the deal make this move an unlikely one.
Coentrao is not the first Real Madrid player that the Reds have been linked with a loan move for this summer. 17-year-old Martin Odegaard has also been rumoured to be interesting the Anfield club, but it appears that a move may be unlikely this summer.
Liverpool’s move for Odegaard has been complicated by Zinedine Zidane, who is keen for the Norwegian to play for a season in France in order to further his development. Stade Rennais are thought to be the side in pole position for the signing of the prodigious midfielder, meaning a move to Anfield is very unlikely.
However, one would have to question whether a move for Odegaard would have been a good idea for Jurgen Klopp’s side anyway. With his front four causing so much damage against Arsenal (even with plenty of absentees), the Real Madrid starlet would be unlikely to get much more benefit from any loan than he would by staying in Madrid.
Finally, after playing an incredibly attacking central midfield against Arsenal at the weekend, the Reds have been linked with a more defensive option in the shape of Chile and Inter Milan midfielder Gary Medel.
Medel, a former Premier League player with Cardiff City, has been the subject of a reported move from Liverpool in order to add more steel to the midfield.
The 29-year-old would certainly do that, and his well known for his love of tackling and breaking up opposition attacks. Although he was relegated with Cardiff, he has won the Copa America twice with Chile in the last two years, and is a very handy player to have in the squad in games where the Reds might need more solidity in midfield. Not a very exiting link, but it could be a good signing for the Reds.
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