Liverpool Strike Gold with Last-Minute Premier League Coup as Deadline Day Drama Unfolds—Report
Liverpool's bold pursuit of Sunderland loan star Lutsharel Geertruida has reportedly been abandoned in favor of a more strategic long-term approach to transfers.
Speculation surrounding Liverpool's pursuit of Geertruida intensified during the final days of the January transfer window. The adaptable defender has excelled across multiple roles for Sunderland this campaign, featuring at right-back, center-back and in midfield as the Black Cats enjoy a remarkable season in the Premier League after earning promotion.
Arne Slot is well-acquainted with Geertruida's exceptional abilities, having given him 127 matches during their time together at Feyenoord. It appeared to be an intelligent temporary solution for a Liverpool squad dealing with a defensive injury crisis affecting Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong. However, circumstances haven't worked out favorably for Slot and Geertruida.
The 25-year-old defender only moved to Sunderland on loan from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window. Any transfer to Liverpool would have required ending that loan arrangement, which Sunderland would probably have sought compensation for, plus negotiating fresh terms between the Reds and Leipzig.
Geertruida was reportedly "eager" to reunite with Slot, but the complexities of any potential deal ultimately made the transfer unfeasible, according to The Athletic.
Liverpool have now shifted focus toward strengthening their future prospects with the pending signing of Jérémy Jacquet. The Rennes defender had been strongly connected with a January move to Chelsea, but multiple sources suggest that the reigning Premier League champions secured an advantage by negotiating favorable conditions that will see Jacquet join next summer instead.
This achievement brings positive news, though it raises challenging questions for the next four months.
How Liverpool Can Cope Without Any Defensive Reinforcements
How Liverpool Can Manage Without Defensive Additions
Slot is already aware that Bradley and Leoni will be unavailable for the rest of the campaign. Gomez is anticipated to return sometime this month, though past experience indicates his next injury setback may be inevitable. Frimpong has shown little promise regarding his long-term fitness during a challenging adjustment to Premier League physicality.
This situation leaves Slot with two senior left-backs (Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson), a duo of center-backs (Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté), but no natural right-back option. Moving either Kerkez or Robertson to their unnatural side would be both harsh and pointless, leaving Slot with the uncomfortable choice of three different midfield players.
Dominik Szoboszlai is obviously the preferred temporary solution. Regrettably, the outstanding Hungarian has also been Liverpool's finest midfielder, and removing him from central areas might be something Slot cannot afford. Szoboszlai clearly isn't enthusiastic about this arrangement.
"Not long-term, not even medium-term to be honest in my head," he commented regarding his right-back duties after delivering another excellent performance from defense against Newcastle United on Saturday evening. "As I've mentioned previously, I'm a midfielder and hopefully our right-back will recover from injury so I can return to the middle."
"I believe midfielder suits me better than right-back," he continued. "I am closer to goal and can be more threatening. I feel from the right position I'm distant from goal, but I'm doing everything for the team to prevent conceding, that's the crucial thing when playing defense, and also contributing in attack with crosses and long passes, whatever the team requires."
Szoboszlai also mentioned two of his midfield teammates as possible alternatives. "If the team requires me or the manager needs me there I will play and attempt to perform my best, but now Wata [Endo] is available to play, also Curtis [Jones] is ready to feature there, so we have several options available."
Unfortunately for Slot, Geertruida won't be among those alternatives.