Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby claims that his former side should have tried to sign new Tottenham player Davinson Sanchez over the summer, and that the player would have seen the Anfield as a more attractive destination.
Sanchez complete his move to Tottenham from Ajax for £36million over the summer and has slotted straight into the centre of the Spurs defence, winning applause for his performances.
The Colombian was part of the team that beat Borussia Dortmund impressively in the Champions League on Wednesday.
By contrast, the Reds defence was criticized as Jurgen Klopp’s side could only draw at Anfield with Sevilla.
Writing in his column in the Liverpool Echo, Molby said that Liverpool’s top target over the summer was a centre-back.
They showed interest in Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk as their main target but didn’t manage to land him – and the German boss didn’t seem to have another alternative.
“When the window closed we had strengthened in every position apart from centre-half. Like most fans, I struggle to understand that,” said Molby.
“Was Van Dijk really the only defender who would have improved this team? I refuse to believe that was the case.
“I wonder about the boy Davinson Sanchez, who went to Spurs from Ajax.
“Why didn’t we show any interest in him? I still think we’re a more attractive proposition than Spurs.
“Maybe the club has failed to identify the kind of players who could improve us. Alternatively, it could be Klopp just being stubborn.”
Jan Molby played for Liverpool for 12 good years, from 1984 to 1996 have a total of 44 goals in 218 appearances, per Wikipedia.
F/W’s view
Davinson Sanchez looks like being a great buy and he had adapted to the Reds playing style and the physical nature of the Premier League almost immediately. Sanchez he’s exactly the type of player any of the top six club could have wish to have in their ranks – and he would undeniably have improved Liverpool. The Merseyside conducted an extended chase of Virgil van Dijk over the summer that ultimately led nowhere, except a public apology over allegations of tapping up.
The rumours continued after that but the Reds were not as linked they were with another central defender. They signed more attacking options, but finding the net was never really an issue. Four games into the start of the Premier League and one Champions League game done, and it’s obvious where the Reds’ weaknesses lie.
As Jan Molby said, Liverpool would surely have been as attractive a proposition as the Spurs for Sanchez, so where does the issue lie? Is it Liverpool’s scouting system or with Jurgen Klopp? The German manager said he was very pleased with his side defence at the end of the summer transfer window. Those words might throw back at him before the January window opens.