Willian Pacho Liverpool links have ‘substance’ – Latest transfer rumors LFC – Liverpool FC

Two key areas of focus for the summer transfer window are starting to emerge, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho the latest to be linked as reinforcements at centre-back.

Change will take place at the club this summer, with an overhaul in the coaching department, player departures and new signings, the latter of which is expected to bolster opposite ends of the pitch.

It was reported earlier this month that the club are set to target a new winger, and a centre-back also appears to be on the agenda.

Arne Slot is set to take over as the new head coach, but with Michael Edwards having a seat at the table alongside new sporting director Richard Hughes, a new hierarchy has been established.

And when it comes to defensive additions, Frankfurt’s Pacho has been checked on a number of occasions, with stalwart Neil Jones, in a column for Caught Offside, noting that the links “have substance”.

Allowed to go if the price is right

The 22-year-old is in just his first season in the Bundesliga after moving from Royal Antwerp last summer and is under contract until 2028.

Sky German’s Florian Plettenberg, whose reliability is in doubt following the pursuit of Ruben Amorim, claims he will be allowed to leave this summer if a club pays more than €50m (£42.9m).

The Ecuadorian has played 42 times for Frankfurt this season and missed just three games – an availability the Reds will appreciate, alongside his senior experience at just 22.

According to Fbref, he’s ranked in the 84th percentile—against his peers in Europe’s big five leagues—for blocks and the 80th percentile for clearances, which shows he’s had plenty of defense.

However, his aerial success rate is not as impressive, sitting in just the 38th percentile – Virgil van Dijk, by comparison, is in the 98th percentile.

Whether it is Pacho that Liverpool are after, the profile of the player the club can target will clearly be young and very experienced, as has been the trend over the years.

The club have Jarell Quansah and Sepp van den Berg will be hoping for a chance in pre-season, but with Joel Matip likely to leave and Ibrahima Konate’s reliability questionable, further reinforcements will be needed.