Liverpool might have lost their grip a bit at Anfield after the defence once again looked shaky when conceding to Bournemouth on Saturday. Such blunders only reinforce the growing chorus: the Reds need to bolster their defence if they harbour genuine title aspirations this term.
Enter Perr Schuurs. This Dutch centre-back, hailing from the stable of Torino, isn’t a new name for the Anfield faithful. Whisperings from the corridors of power have frequently linked Schuurs with a switch to Merseyside. It’s known that the towering defender has been on the radar of Jurgen Klopp for quite a spell.
Italian outlet Tutto Sport highlighted that last month saw Liverpool knocking on Torino’s door not once, but twice. Their determination was evident, but their last bid, a whopping 30 million euros (a shade over £26m), met with resistance from the Italian outfit.
Yet, in a twist worthy of a transfer saga, Football Insider’s latest indicates that the Reds might just be on the brink of securing their man.
LANDSCAPE OF ALTERNATIVES
While the interest in Schuurs remains steadfast, Liverpool’s recent past has seen them connected with other defensive prospects. They had eyes for Mickey van de Ven, but Tottenham had the last laugh there. Meanwhile, Sporting CP’s starlet, Goncalo Inacio, snubbed outside interest and renewed his allegiance with the Portuguese side.
Rumour mills are in overdrive, trying to pin down what it might cost to pry Schuurs away. Initial estimates suggested a £30m figure might do the trick. However, a fresh buzz, this time emanating from Italy’s Calico Mercato, nudges the price upwards to £34.2m (or 40 million euros).
Schuurs, meanwhile, is keeping his head down, putting in the shifts. Just last week, he showcased his skills in a full 90-minute display, as Torino clinched a 2-1 victory over Feralpisalo in the Coppa Italia. And, looking ahead, all eyes will be on him as Torino squares off against Cagliari, marking their Serie A season’s commencement.
With the transfer window’s sands rapidly depleting, the big question looms – should Liverpool delve deeper into their coffers for Perr Schuurs?
