Liverpool wants to sign a replacement for Matip for around £80 million by hijacking Man Utd’s objective.

After the Cameroonian’s departure was made official, the Reds began seeking for a replacement.

Joel Matip’s final Liverpool match draws near, as Jurgen Klopp’s team has announced that the defender will be departing when his contract expires at the end of the campaign. News about

Liverpool transfer news

Given that Matip is probably going to be remembered as one of the greatest free agents to have ever signed for Liverpool, especially in the Premier League era, it makes sense in many ways that he is departing on a free contract. The defender’s legendary backline avalanches earned him every major trophy available in English football, and they became associated with Klopp’s Liverpool.

With players like Goncalo Inacio and Ousmane Diomande making headlines, Liverpool needs to find a successor for those frantic dashes and defensive brilliance. Under Ruben Amorim, who was formerly connected to Liverpool, the two Sporting CP defenders have both had fantastic seasons; nonetheless, it’s possible that Liverpool will sign one of them to replace Matip.

Reports from Spain claim that Liverpool is considering a move to capture Antonio Silva, which might result in the Reds activating his €100 million (£86 million) release clause in order to sabotage Manchester United’s possible agreement. The Reds might surprise their opponents by replacing Matip with a marquee signing from Benfica in a single transfer.

At just twenty years old, the centre defender might even help Liverpool eventually replace Virgil van Dijk in the long run, working with players like Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate. Silva has a significant release clause, but Benfica is supposedly ready to negotiate a lower price in order to allay financial concerns this summer, so they might not even need to rely on that.

Silva the “hero” might accomplish two goals at once.

Replacing Matip should be Liverpool’s top defensive priority, but replacing Van Dijk should be close after, so it would be great to do both at the same time. And Silva has the time and capacity to accomplish that at such a young age. He has his supporters, too, as Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout called him a “hero”.

Michael Edwards would want to start his first summer back at Anfield by beating Manchester United to Silva’s signature, especially if he can negotiate a lesser price in the kind of move that has made him renowned over the years.

Having said that, Silva is a player to keep an eye on when Liverpool looks to bolster their defence under Arne Slot during the summer transfer window.