Jurgen Klopp rates young Dutchman Ki-Jana Hoever as a ‘rare, special talent,’ and is happy to allow Dejan Lovren an exit to open the teenager’s door to the first-team.
This is according to Dave Maddock, who writes as much in the Mirror, declaring that the 17-year-old Dutchman will be considered an option ‘THIS’ season.
Liverpool are in discussions with Serie A giants AS Roma regarding the transfer of Lovren to Italy, which will see us down to three senior central defenders for the campaign…
Considering Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are prone to injury, this seems a little risky – but obviously displays the faith Klopp has in not only Hoever (who made his debut at centre-back as a 16-year-old last season v Wolves in the FA Cup), but summer signing Sepp van den Berg.
As well as the Dutch wonderkids, we have Fabinho, who while a preferred option in defensive midfield, could do a job at the back in a crisis.
What’s interesting to us is that every time we’ve seen Hoever, he’s seemed more suited to right-back, but perhaps like Gomez, he’ll eventually be an option for Liverpool in either position.