Liverpool have been blessed this season with two defenders — Neco Williams and Dejan Lovren — exceeding expectations. Williams, who is just 18-years-old, has shone in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup fixtures which earned him a spot on the bench for six Premier League matches.
The right-back teen sensation is sure to be Trent Alexander-Arnold’s full-time back-up next season, allowing Nathaniel Clyne to leave on a free transfer. Williams emergence also means Klopp can use centre-back Joe Gomez in central defence and James Milner can focus on playing in midfield.
Williams signed his first professional contract last year at the age of 17 and has broken into the first-team thanks to his stunning performances. His inclusion in the team could allow Alexander-Arnold to play higher up the pitch next season giving Liverpool even more attacking options.
According to Football Insider, who have an “inside source at Anfield”, the Reds are ready to tie down Williams with a new deal to keep him at Anfield. Williams turns 19 in April with his current contract running until 2021. A new contract will give Liverpool the chance to save money in the long run by tying the right-back down now.
While Williams is set for a new contract, it looks like Lovren is headed for the exit. HITC claim Liverpool have dropped their transfer asking price to sell the centre-back. Lovren has been immense this season (other than his Shrewsbury Town FA Cup fourth round shocker) in the wake of Joel Matip’s knee injury. However, since suffering an injury of his own in December, Gomez has supplanted Lovren as first-choice. Add in the emergence of Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever and Lovren’s place is now up for grabs.
Liverpool negotiated Lovren’s sale to Roma last summer, but the asking price was too high for the Romans in the end, who later signed Manchester United’s Chris Smalling on loan.
HITC claim Liverpool will sell Lovren and take a £10 million hit on the defender. However, Lovren did arrive from Southampton for £20m in 2014, giving Liverpool six seasons of service. Although Liverpool are said to be taking a hit on selling the defender, he will turn 31 in July and has played his prime seasons at Anfield. Losing money on Lovren, or most ageing defenders should be expected
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