Liverpool ‘have contacted former Arsenal defender Sokratis’ as they scramble for cover in defense … but the Greek international – who played for Borussia Dortmund’ s Jurgen Klopp – is ready to go. -into Olympiacos instead
- Liverpool are considering Sokratis, a former Arsenal defender, reports
- The Greek midfielder is a free agent following his release from the Emirates
- Jurgen Klopp needs consolidation with his options lowered at the back
- Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez stay out while Joel Matip struggles to return
Liverpool have reached out to former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos as they step up the search for defensive consolidation, according to reports.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have been plagued by injuries this season – especially in defense – with center-back Virgil van Dijk long-term absent while Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are also has been out for a while. He has turned German midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho on his back and has shaped the club.
Youngster Rhys Williams has relied on the heart of defense but failed in Liverpool’s FA Cup 3-2 loss to Man United, leading to calls that the club should fall into the market. for a new employer to help the Reds out of their relegation.
Liverpool have contacted former Arsenal defender Sokratis, who played under Jurgen Klopp (R) at Dortmund
Liverpool, who have not won any of their last five league games, were expected to return Matip for the United game but the Cameroonian did not make the squad even as he tried to be relegated. to the team slowly.
Klopp has not previously made secrets about his desire for a new defender and the club has now taken action by making first contact with the Greek international Sokratis, as reported by the Athletic . The 32-year-old is a free agent after terminating Arsenal’s contract with each other’s consent last week.
Sokratis, a highly experienced player with 463 club appearances and 90 captains for his country, had six months left to run on his contract but was left alone with manager Mikel Arteta, after failing since August .
Klopp is well known from their time together at Dortmund – the German signed for a Bundesliga club in 2013 and enjoyed a close relationship for two seasons before leaving the boss for Liverpool.
Sokratis formed a relationship with Klopp in Germany and played underneath for two years
Liverpool had to defend midfielder Fabinho as a defense after their injury crisis
However, the report alleges that Liverpool have only investigated his current position and are not yet in formal talks – with the player likely to be linked with Olympiakos in native Greece.
Sokratis is known for his fiery nature and Klopp once joked that he wasn’t sure if the player ‘wanted to kill him’, an idea the defender laughed at after talking about the former boss in 2019.
‘I took what Jurgen said as a compliment, of course. I had a good relationship with him, having played for him at Dortmund. It was very good for me. ‘
The Greek defender would have no problem adapting to Liverpool’s style of play at Liverpool
He started his career with AEK Athens before his big shows at the back began to attract attention from Italy. Genoa broke it down in 2008 before making a big move to AC Milan two years later.
He struggled to fit in at the Rossonneri and was loaned to Werder Bremen – eventually turning the move permanently and later joining Klopp at Dortmund, where whether it would be a major site and nearly 200 appearances for the club.
In 2018 he signed for the Gunners in a deal worth around £ 17m but suffered a spell up and down in north London. He was singled out for some costly mistakes, even after making 40 appearances in his first season and went into the likes of Mesut Ozil and William Saliba in being put off by Arteta in this campaign.
