Scouting Rumoured Liverpool Transfer Target Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Name: Kyriakos Papadopoulos

Position: Central defender

Current club: Schalke 04

Nationality: Greek

Market value: £12 million

Liverpool confirmed on their club website their first signing of the summer on Tuesday, with the news that Manchester City defender Kolo Toure would be joining on a free transfer. However, the Reds are expected to further reinforce their back line during this transfer window.

Their prime target appears to be Kyriakos Papadopoulos, with many media outlets claiming a bid is imminent from the club. The Liverpool Echo claims that the Reds see him as Jamie Carragher's replacement in the first team, and that they will aim to bring him to Anfield for £12 million.

The Guardian's Tor-Kristian Karlsen has his say on the Liverpool-Papadopoulos saga via his Twitter account:

"

Liverpool interest is concrete. Has been on the shortlist/highly rated by many European top clubs (incl. Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd)

— Tor-Kristian Karlsen (@karlsentk) May 16, 2013"

"

Before the injury I certainly rated him as one of the top centre-backs in European football, hopefully he'll return to same physical shape

— Tor-Kristian Karlsen (@karlsentk) May 16, 2013"

"

What I like with Papadopoulos: quick, agile. Not a giant in terms of height but huge presence. Aggressive, leader type, great personality

— Tor-Kristian Karlsen (@karlsentk) May 16, 2013"

Papadopoulos' Season at Schalke 04

The Greek 6-footer is already a regular for Schalke in the German Bundesliga, and at just 21 years of age has amassed more than 50 top-flight appearances for the team. He has also featured more than 20 times in European competition and has 16 caps for his country.

Papadopoulos started the season in the team at centre-back, playing in the first six games before he missed out on three with a viral infection. Straight back into the team, he played four more games before the end of November—he then required a knee operation that was due to keep him out for several weeks, perhaps past the end of the winter break. 

As it happened, it ended the defender's season entirely; the rest of the season has been spent recuperating from the operation, meaning he ended the season having featured 16 times in all competitions.

The defender spoke about his time on the sidelines recently to the club website:

"

I can’t give you a date when I will be back. That’s not on. If I had my way then I’d be playing tomorrow. I can hardly wait. And I have to say: I think I’ll be able to play in at least one game. My recovery is going well, I’m constantly building up my work levels and I’m on track. Everything’s going well. I don’t think it will be long before I’m training with the rest of the lads again. It’s the first serious injury in my whole career. I’ve never been out of action for long before now. I was sidelined for two weeks once but that’s it. I hope I can stay fit in the future.

"

Strengths and What He'd Bring to Liverpool

Huge power and strength, great aggression from defence and a willingness and ability to make tackles and win headers—those are the primary attributes of Kyriakos Papadopoulos.

He's not exactly a cultured and refined defender—but he brings everything to the table that the Reds are missing in their back line with the retirement of Jamie Carragher. He also registered a decent pass completion rate of 89 percent during the past campaign, so he won't be seen hoofing the ball aimlessly downfield.

Papadopoulos is also deceptively quick, allowing the Reds to put their high defensive line back in place, and has good agility on the ground. He was averaging 3.7 tackles and six interceptions per game before his injury, which would have been good enough to rank him in the top dozen players in the entire league in both statistics over the course of the season.

At age 21 he has done well to rack up around 150 senior appearances all told for club and country, so has some experience behind him, but he also has ample time to continue learning and improving.

It's also perhaps worth noting that he scored six goals all told during 2011-12 season; if he can bring that kind of threat to the opposition penalty box for Liverpool, it will be another huge plus.

Former Reds midfielder Jan Molby is a fan, as per his column in the Liverpool Echo:

"

[Papadopoulos] is as strong as a bull, dominant in the air and very good in one-on-one situations. When I’ve seen him in Champions League matches, I’ve been impressed. He certainly fits the profile in terms of the type Liverpool seem to want to build a team around – he’s a talented young player with real potential.

"

Schalke's No. 14 is one of the highest-rated young defenders in Europe.

Problems with the Deal?

First and foremost, Liverpool will have to be convinced that his knee injury is fully healed and that there will be no lasting damage from the inflammation Papadopoulos was suffering from.

The obvious concern there is that it could, at least in the short term, rob him of some of that pace and power in the jump which were big parts of how he defended. A solid preseason will aid in that regard, if he is ready for that kind of training in time.

Schalke finished the Bundesliga season in fourth place, which gives them a spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds. While it's not the be-all and end-all, it would likely give players pause for thought in moving from one team in the top competition to another without European football at all next season, though it bodes well for the Reds if they can still attract such talent without the riches and sporting lure of the Champions League.

However, Schalke have tied up a deal for Borussia Dortmund's Felipe Santana, according to Goal.com, who is said to be Papadopoulos' replacement, meaning the deal could well be further along than some anticipate already.

Kyriakos and Daniel Agger

So looking ahead, how would the Greek fare alongside Liverpool's established starter, Danish centre-back Daniel Agger?

In terms of technique, they are just about a perfect complement to each other.

Agger is refined, controlled, composed on the ball, good at one-on-ones and as brave as a lion; alongside him Papadopoulos would bring the aggression and ferocity the Reds need on occasion, and importantly a real ball-winner in aerial duels.

The two have pace enough to allow Brendan Rodgers to instill his preferred high line in defence, and both can recycle the ball from deep well enough, even if Agger is the more progressive thinker.

There is a real potential for this duo to be one of the best in the league if Liverpool can seal this transfer, and they would have a starting centre-back to rival any youngster in Europe over the next few years.

This is one deal, one rumour, which Liverpool would be extremely wise to get tied up as early as possible, presuming there are no outstanding fitness issues, and one which the club itself and all the relevant departments would deserve huge credit for identifying and sanctioning.

Follow @karlmatchett

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