Liverpool are enduring a crisis at the back at the start of the 2020/21 season after losing Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez to long-term injuries. Joel Matip has also had injury concerns in the past, leaving Jurgen Klopp’s options thin on the ground, to say the least for the rest of the campaign.
Reports have linked the Reds with a number of players across Europe to replace Van Dijk and Gomez for the rest of the season. However, there could be solutions closer to home – with players in the Championship potentially ready to fill the void before developing behind Van Dijk when he returns to fitness. It’s never a bad idea to have a long-term strategy and these two players could fit the bill.
Dael Fry (Middlesbrough)
Fry made his debut at the age of 17 for Boro under Aitor Karanka. He was used sparingly at first in the Championship and failed to make an appearance in the club’s last season in the Premier League. However, he has developed his game over the last two seasons and has become an integral player under Neil Warnock at the Riverside Stadium. With Fry at the heart of their defence, Middlesbrough ae backed in the English Championship betting odds at 22/1 to win the second-tier outright.
The 23-year-old will play an essential part in a promotion bid in a defence that has conceded only five goals in their opening 11 matches. He has all the attributes and the potential to become a top centre-back. Fry was part of the England squad that triumphed in the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 along with the Toulon Tournament in 2018, where he was named in the team of the tournament.
At 6ft 4in, Fry has good size and build to cope with physical players in the final third. He is not the complete defender yet, but he does have intriguing upside and a £10m offer could test Boro’s resolve in the January transfer window.
Chris Mepham (Bournemouth)
Mepham was a regular under Eddie Howe in the Premier League for the Cherries last season until he suffered a serious knee injury in January that ruled him out of the term. Bournemouth missed his presence at the back as they conceded cheap goals aplenty in the drop into the Championship. The 23-year-old has bounced back at the start to the current season and has helped solidify the Cherries at the back under new manager Jason Tindall.
Mepham is a regular at international level with Wales, already boasting 13 caps to his name. He has plenty of experience at the highest level and would not be daunted by the quality of football. The defender has a good build at 6ft 3in but also possesses the attributes that all modern-day centre-backs have to have at their disposal – solid distribution.
It should allow him to fit seamlessly into the approach of Klopp, although Bournemouth might not be inclined to sell. The Cherries paid £12m for the defender from Brentford in 2019 and could be looking for a free in the range of £20m.
The Championship is not always the league were Premier League title winners look to replenish their squad, but Liverpool are in a unique position and could move for a project player to start and then further develop in their system.
