Joel Matip has taken one other huge step in his restoration from a long-term ACL damage, although the chances are high that his subsequent recreation won’t be for Liverpool.
On the finish of March, Jurgen Klopp revealed that Matip was working on the out of doors pitches of the AXA Coaching Centre for the primary time since his damage in December.
The centre-back required surgical procedure after the 4-3 win over Fulham, with it all the time the expectation that he would go on to overlook the rest of the season.
Whereas that has proved to be the case, Matip was noticed working with a ball once more in Friday’s session as Liverpool put together to go to Aston Villa on Monday night time.
He was not a part of the principle group, however the sight of the 32-year-old transferring extra freely once more was definitely a welcome one.
Weeks left on his contract
It comes with simply weeks remaining on his contract at Anfield, with the probability being that he’s amongst these launched on the finish of the season.
Klopp had expressed a need for the membership to increase Matip’s deal not lengthy after his damage, however with the supervisor now set to depart this summer season, that state of affairs is much less clear.
Liverpool won’t affirm their launched checklist – which is able to embody Thiago, Mateusz Musialowski and presumably Adrian – till after the ultimate recreation towards Wolves on Might 19.
There’s nonetheless an opportunity talks are held with Matip over a doable extension, nevertheless it may very well be telling that quite a few centre-backs have already been reliably linked with a transfer to Merseyside.
Centre-back targets
Among the many choices thought of are Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho and Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande, whereas the membership are additionally anticipated to push for a brand new deal for Virgil van Dijk.
Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah are at present tussling for the first-choice spot alongside Van Dijk, with Klopp admitting that the teenager was at present forward of Konate and Joe Gomez within the pecking order.
If Matip does depart after eight years, he’ll accomplish that having made an indelible contribution to Liverpool’s success beneath Klopp.
Regardless of accidents, he has made 201 appearances for the Reds and lifted each trophy doable, and stands as top-of-the-line free transfers in Premier League historical past.
