This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to 90min.com, Liverpool are set to win the race to sign Sam McCallum from Coventy City.
What’s the story?
This season, the 19-year-old has begun to cement his place in the Sky Blues’ first XI, with him having started in 11 matches in League One already this campaign.
That has drawn the interest of a number of top clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Leicester City, but it is the Reds who are said to be in pole position.
Exactly what is needed
One of the main positives for Jurgen Klopp this season has been his squad’s strength in depth. There have already been 15 goalscorers this term for the Anfield outfit, and the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi have all contributed when coming into the side at various points this campaign.
Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…
Left-back remains a problem position for the 52-year-old manager beyond Andrew Robertson. The Scotland international is one of the best in the world in that role, but after him, James Milner is the only viable option, and that is not his natural position. Robertson has already confirmed he has been playing without training recently, which just goes to show how vital he is to the side.
A new recruit on that side of the pitch would not go amiss, therefore. McCallum, who came through the Jamie Vardy academy which aims to give non-league players a shot at the big-time, has impressed for Coventry already this term.
He has made nine appearances in that position so far this season, picking up a WhoScored rating of 7.1. He has averaged 1.3 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per match, whilst he has averaged 1.1 dribbles and one key pass per game as well.
Should he make the move to Anfield, it is being reported he will be loaned back to his current employers until the end of the season. Whilst that will mean that James Milner will need to carry on as the first alternative at left-back for another six months, McCallum will be able to play back-up to the Scotland international in the future.
He may even be able to challenge his place in the side as well, and solve one of Klopp’s key problems.
In other news, this Liverpool man would be downgrading he moved from Liverpool to this European giant.
