Liverpool letting star defender leave would be sheer lunacy
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After gaining a reputation for being unable to buy competent defenders, Brendan Rodgers is in danger of becoming famous for letting his good ones leave too.
The Northern Irishman has not overseen the tightest of ships as far as defending has concerned since taking over Liverpool and has generally struggled to get his new, often big-money, signings to adapt to a more ball-playing philosophy at Anfield.
On the whole it is the added pressure of having the ball at their feet that leads to mistakes for the Reds backline, with the likes of Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho looking vulnerable in Rodgers’ possession-based system.
Things have become so bad that midfielder Emre Can has been asked to move back to fill in, so it seems bizarre that Liverpool’s best defender, Martin Skrtel, is being linked with a move away from the club this summer.
According to the Sunday Mirror, the Slovakian could be snapped up by Wolfsburg as the 30-year-old enters into the final year of his contract with no negotiations over an extension taking place.
That scenario is becoming an increasingly common one for the Merseyside club, who are 11/2 top-four hopefuls, as Raheem Sterling’s situation becomes all the more mainstream.
Arguably letting Skrtel leave in similar circumstances would be the bigger crime of the two potential departures, as the centre-back brings a calming influence, physical presence and aerial threat to Liverpool when he plays.
Rumours that Ashley Williams is being lined up as a replacement for the international feel like a step in the wrong direction for the Reds, who need a stable base at the back if they are to continue holding a Champions League threat.
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