Liverpool Transfer News: Neven Subotic Deal Expected as January Rumours Increase

Rumours are gathering pace that Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic could well become Jurgen Klopp’s first signing at Liverpool.

According to Bild (h/t Jamie Styles of the Daily Star), the chances are the Serbia international will be moving to Anfield in the mid-season window, giving the deal a 60 per cent chance of coming off.

Klopp and Subotic previously worked together to great effect at the Westfalenstadion, and it’s suggested in the piece a deal could be done for a meagre £3.5 million.

Here are the kind of attributes Subotic would potentially bring to the heart of the Liverpool defence:

The 26-year-old was a key part of the vibrant Dortmund side Klopp assembled, forming a fine partnership alongside Mats Hummels. However, since the arrival of the excellent Sokratis Papastathopoulos and the prodigious Matthias Ginter, Subotic has fallen gradually fallen down the pecking order.

When asked about his future after Dortmund’s win over Wolfsburg at the weekend, Subotic was coy. “I would love to play, and I fight all the time. I can't do anything more,” he told reporters, per Bild (h/t Styles). “Right now is not the time for transfer thoughts because we still have a few games until the winter break.”

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Indeed, although Dortmund have been far from watertight at the back, Subotic has only started two games in the Bundesliga under Thomas Tuchel. With that in mind, Alex Chaffer of FourFourTwo thinks the defender will be on his way eventually:

Liverpool would potentially be an ideal destination, too. Before Klopp took up the job at Anfield, the Reds were lacking in defensive quality, with the likes of Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren all showing glimpses, but never totally convincing under predecessor Brendan Rodgers.

So while the Reds have been brilliant in their forward forays under the German, at the back there are still frailties. They materialised in earnest as Liverpool were undone in shock circumstances by Newcastle United on Sunday, losing 2-0 to the strugglers.

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A player of Subotic’s calibre could therefore come in and make a big difference. As noted by German football expert Clark Whitney, the player and Klopp do seem to share a very strong bond, which could prompt the Reds into making a move for him:

There are a number of other reasons as to why this transfer would make sense, too. After some poor fortune with injuries in 2013-14 season, Subotic has never really been able to nail down a regular place in the Dortmund side, and as such, he hasn't recaptured the kind of form he showcased during BVB’s two title wins previously. At Liverpool, you suspect he'd be afforded reassurances on more minutes.

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Time is also on his side. For a centre-back who has been on the scene for so long, it’s tough to believe Subotic is only 26. Therefore, there is still plenty of time for the Serb to get back to the levels that previously saw him rated as one of the best centre-backs in European football.

Finally, it’s clear he’s an ideal fit for the bespoke style of football Klopp wants to play at Anfield. Subotic was brilliant under the German at Dortmund and the kind of enforcing, front-foot operator needed when playing such an aggressive way.

If the Reds can get this one over the line for the sum reported, then it’d potentially be one of the signings of the January window.