The 22-year-old comes with a high reputation to go along with his relatively high fee, building a solid reputation as an attacking full-back and left winger.
Chipping in with three goals and five assists for the La Liga side (including a goal and an assist in their win against Barcelona at Camp Nou), Firpo could be a quality, if costly, addition to Jürgen Klopp’s side.
“Liverpool, like City, were incredibly good last season – they would have won the title most years – but, as Klopp says, they cannot afford to stand still,” Wilson claims.
“Having just parted with the likable but erratic Alberto Moreno, they are now in the market for a back-up left-back.
“Junior Firpo of Real Betis fits the bill and Liverpool are undismayed by the 22-year‑old’s release clause of £45m.
“That’s inflation for you but if the deal does go ahead at least the player’s age is right, even if there seems no reason to worry unnecessarily about the future when Andy Robertson is one of the best in the business and only 25.”
Not really seen much of Junior Firpo ever, but having just looked into it he can play both left midfield/wing and centre back as well as his natural left back. While we wouldn’t pay £45million for a back up left back, we may for someone who could cover in three different roles.
— Don Kopleone (@donkopleone) June 22, 2019
Firpo will certainly be a step-up on Alberto Moreno, but is unlikely to oust the mighty Andy Robertson from the left-back spot.
What is valuable about the young full-back, however, is his versatility. Despite being viewed as an offsensive left-back, he played 29 games for Betis and played as a left-sided midfielder in 25 of them.
That’s because Betis often use a 3-4-2-1 formation and Firpo operates all along their left flank, at liberty, in a four-man midfield.
This attacking impulse in the Santo Domingo-born Spaniard could be a boon for Klopp, though it will have to be managed to avoid the defensive mistakes that exit-bound Alberto Moreno was guilty of.
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