Breaking Down How Nathaniel Clyne Will Fit in at Liverpool
English right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 24, has moved from Southampton to Liverpool.
Filling an area of need, Clyne is a welcome addition to Liverpool's squad, so let's analyse his transfer, what he brings to the Reds and how he fits in.
Clyne Transfer Details
Liverpool have signed Clyne from Southampton for €17.6 million/£12.5 million, per BBC Sport.
It's an increased bid from Liverpool after Southampton rejected a €14.1 million/£10 million offer, per Chris Bascombe at the Telegraph.
Judging the transfer fees of previous right-backs, Liverpool have invested heavily in Clyne.
Glen Johnson | Portsmouth → Liverpool: €20.2 million/£17.5 million (2009; 24 years old).
Nathaniel Clyne | Southampton → Liverpool: €17.6 million/£12.5 million (2015; 24 years old).
Steve Finnan | Fulham → Liverpool: €5 million/£3.5 million (2003; 27 years old).
Vegard Heggem | Rosenborg → Liverpool: €5.4 million/£3.5 million (1999; 22 years old).
Alvaro Arbeloa | Deportivo La Coruna → Liverpool: €3.9 million/£2.6 million (2007; 24 years old).
Transfer fees adjusted for inflation, per Oanda.
Liverpool persisted with Johnson even after his drastic dip in form, so it is likely that Clyne will be given leeway to fail, unlike Javier Manquillo, who has an undetermined future. The Spaniard's playing rights are owned by Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool are backing Clyne, who signed a five-year contract, which is why his transfer fee is in the ballpark of Johnson's.
Here is why Liverpool have got themselves a smart deal:
- Johnson's salary: €168,617/£120,000-a-week, per Andy Hunter at the Guardian.
- Clyne's salary: €126,570/£90,000-a-week, per Paul Joyce at the Daily Express.
Johnson is deteriorating whereas Clyne is in career-best form. Clyne is younger, has a higher upside and is cheaper in transfer fee and wages.
This is an example of outstanding negotiating from Liverpool.
Speaking of deals, Southampton are winning in the transfer market.
During the 2013/14 Premier League season, Calum Chambers and Clyne shared the right-back spot in the Premier League.
| Games (Starts) | 22 (18) | 25 (20) |
| Tackles Per 90 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
| Tackles Per Foul | 2.1 | 3.3 |
| Tackle Success % | 75 | 86.2 |
| Interceptions Per 90 | 2 | 1.4 |
Having sold Chambers to Arsenal for €20.2 million/£16 million last year, Clyne became the undisputed starting right-back, allowing him to further raise his transfer stock.
Cue Liverpool's transfer bid.
Clyne is replaced at Southampton by Cedric Soares, who signed from Sporting Lisbon for €6.5 million/£4.7 million.
Southampton have gained €37.8 million/£28.5 million from the sales of Chambers and Clyne.
The signing of Clyne reinforces a recent trend of Liverpool boosting the bank balance of Southampton.
Adam Lallana | Southampton → Liverpool: €31.2 million/£25 million (2014; 26 years old).
Dejan Lovren | Southampton → Liverpool: €25.3 million/£20 million (2014; 25 years old).
Nathaniel Clyne | Southampton → Liverpool: €17.6 million/£12.5 million (2015; 24 years old).
Rickie Lambert | Southampton → Liverpool: €4.9 million/£4 million (2014; 32 years old).
Transfer fees adjusted for inflation, per Oanda.
The other noted Southampton transfer to Liverpool was Peter Crouch's €10.1 million/£7 million signing in 2005.
After that, it was Southampton bolstering their squad list with Liverpool loanees: Adam Hammill (2007), Danny Guthrie (2007) and Darren Potter (2006).
Now Liverpool have paid Southampton €79 million/£61.5 million for Lallana, Lovren, Clyne and Lambert.
Talk about a reversal of fortunes in Liverpool's relationship with Southampton.
The silver lining to overspending on Lallana is he was pivotal in Clyne's decision to choose Liverpool.
"Adam and I spoke a lot. He said he wanted me to sign and I said if the deal moves along and gets done, I'd be with him as a teammate once again," Clyne said, per James Pearce at the Liverpool Echo. "I can join in with the lads [from Southampton] and I reckon I'll settle down [in Liverpool] easily."
Clyne Tendencies
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman utilised a four-man defence in 92.1 per cent of games in the Premier League last season, often interchanging from variations of a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3.
Clyne is in his element as a right-back.
Though, Koeman started with a 3-4-1-2 in a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
Clyne experimented at right wing-back for 24 minutes before Koeman reverted to a 4-2-3-1, which later shifted into a 4-2-1-3.
"Normally, my favourite system is the 4-3-3," Koeman said, as reported by Tom Biggs on Southampton's website. "But sometimes I like to change [formations]."
The tactical adjustments under Koeman will prepare Clyne for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' formation and position tinkering.
A bonus of signing Clyne is he's English.
Out of English right-backs who started 20 Premier League games or more last season, Clyne is on another level when compared to Andre Wisdom, Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Trippier.
| Tackles Per 90 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| Tackles Per Foul | 6.3 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 4.3 |
| Tackles Success % | 77.9 | 71.4 | 68 | 60.8 |
| Interceptions Per 90 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.2 |
The defensive metric tackles per foul combines prolific ball-winning with proficiency.
To explain tackles per foul with an example: Lee Cattermole totalled 76 tackles in 28 Premier League games for Sunderland last season.
But his tackles per foul (1.4) is inefficient, which partly explains his 14 yellow cards.
There is a substantial gap in Clyne's tackles per foul (6.3) and the next best (Trippier; 4.3).
Averaging 0.6 fouls per 90 minutes and incurring four yellow cards in 35 games, Clyne is consistent, reliable and safe when tackling.
Former Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock was convinced by Clyne from the get-go, saying he had a "bright future in the game" in 2008, per the Croydon Advertiser.
Seven years later, Clyne has vindicated Warnock, who remains a big supporter of his former player.
"I said [Clyne] was the best right-back [from a defensive point of view] in the country ... and nothing has changed," Warnock said, per Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (h/t Alex Varney at talkSPORT). "He has still got flaws, but he is learning all the time."
What Clyne needs to work on is producing an end product in the attacking half. 244 players in the Premier League achieved something Clyne failed to do last season—register an assist.
"[Rodgers] has shown a lot of interest in me and this is a place where I can improve as a player, I think. It's definitely a good opportunity to come here and try and fulfil my potential," Clyne said, per James Carroll at Liverpool's website. "I'm happy ... very happy!"
Liverpool will be "very happy" if Clyne replicates his performances for Southampton at Anfield—he could become one of the best right-backs in the world.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
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