Forget Papa: Why Liverpool Should Consider This Elegant Centre-Back. Transfer Scouting Report.

With Jamie Carragher swapping the pitch for the analysis box in the summer and Martin Skrtel’s future continuing to look uncertain, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has reportedly been on the hunt for a new centre-back. Although the former Swansea manager was quick to draft in Kolo Toure, news of an injury to back-up defender Sebastian Coates may prompt Rodgers into action.

The Reds have been linked with a host of names over the last few months, but one name, and a very long name, has repeatedly reared its head, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who according to a number of sources, such as The Daily Mirror has been continuously linked. However, with the Greek’s injury eating at him a deal looks questionable. But should Rodgers be looking at the Schalke centre-half’s team-mate, Joel Matip?

The 22-year-old has rapidly established himself as one of the most exciting defensive units in Europe, but with Howdes welding himself into the first central defender spot at the Veltins Arena and Felipe Santana arriving from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, Matip’s place is under threat.

The young Cameroon international was granted a starting berth in Schalke’s opening fixture of the Bundesliga campaign, but it didn’t go to plan. His handball lead to Rafael van der Vaart netting from the resulting penalty, and late on Matip skewed a chance to steal all three points for the hosts. The game resulted in a 3-3 draw.

He did, however, impress with his defending. There was an evident lack of organisation at the back from both sides, but Matip carried out nine clearances, two interceptions and a block – more defensive actions than anyone in the squad can boast going into the third round of games.