Liverpool have been linked with Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, who is currently available to sign a pre-contract agreement.
Liverpool have only signed seven free agents during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure at Anfield, but recent reports suggest the Reds could add to that total this summer.
If Liverpool were to entice Jude Bellingham to Anfield, he would cost a club-record fee of more than £100 million. Meanwhile, with the Reds continuing to be linked with Matheus Nunes and Mason Mount, the England international would not be the only new arrival in the engine room if signed.
In need of three new midfielders, such a transaction could easily cost £200 million. And, with Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League currently in doubt, it’s unclear what funds the Reds will have to work with in the transfer market.
While midfield is the most important position for Klopp to fill this summer, it is not the only one. A new back-up goalkeeper and a new center-back are also arguably required, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Nat Phillips, and Joel Matip all potentially leaving.
If Liverpool has spent heavily elsewhere, the funds may not be available for further big-money signings in positions that aren’t as high on their priority list. As a result, Bosman transfers may benefit the Reds.
Historically, when Liverpool makes a move for an out-of-contract player, it is usually for a backup goalkeeper or a highly talented youngster who can command a high compensation fee. Alex Manninger, Adrian, and Andy Lonergan ticked the former box among Klopp’s seven free agents signed since October 2015, while Dominic Solanke, Harvey Elliott, and Fabio Carvalho ticked the latter.
As a result, Matip is the only big-name Bosman transfer completed under Klopp’s watch, with the Reds confirming in February 2016 that they had signed a pre-contract agreement with the defender.
According to reports, Liverpool could replace the Cameroonian in a similar manner, as they are still linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka.
The 23-year-old is a quick-thinking left-sided centre-back who can also play left-back or defensive midfield. As a Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt last season, he gained valuable Champions League experience with the Bundesliga club this season.
He is a threat from set-pieces and scored four goals in the Bundesliga last season. Meanwhile, he’s comfortable on the ball and has previously played for France’s youth ranks alongside Reds defender Ibrahima Konate.
To put it another way, he checks a lot of boxes. After turning down a final contract offer from Frankfurt, he is expected to be available on a free transfer this summer. Of course, this is an appealing trait, especially since it would allow Liverpool to commit more transfer funds to midfield signings.
Now that he is in the final three months of his contract, interested clubs can hold talks with Ndicka without the Bundesliga club’s permission. As a result, if Klopp is interested in the 23-year-old, the Reds can reach an agreement and sign the defender now on a pre-contract agreement.
Of course, Liverpool aren’t the only ones rumored to be interested in the centre-back, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly keeping tabs on his situation.
Meanwhile, while the Reds or any other interested club can agree to sign Ndicka now, he will still play the rest of the season with Frankfurt before leaving at the end of his contract.
However, with Liverpool increasingly linked with the France youth international, he could become the club’s first signing of the summer before the transfer window even opens.
