Liverpool FC has reportedly met Real Betis defender Aissa Mandi as an ideal replacement for Dejan Lovren, who left Anfield’s team to sign for Zenit St. Petersburg.
Mandi, who is expected to leave Real Betis this summer, has one year left on his current contract and the La Liga team would like to take credit for the player. Mandi, who moved from the French side of Reims to Real Betis in 2016 for just $3.3 million, has been a key member of the team for the more than two years and has already made 141 competitive appearances for the Spanish side. Of which 95 came to La Liga, where he also contributed 4 goals.
While Real Betis has called Mandi $35 million this summer, Liverpool plans to make an official $11 million offer. According to a report by the Spanish media COPE, Real Betis is in a position to settle for payment relief for Mandi after the failure of the transfer of his 31-year-old Moroccan defender Zouhair Feddal to Sporting Lisbon in the existing summer moving window.
The extra report said Liverpool should take advantage of this scenario as coach Jurgen Klopp sought to increase more intensity to their defence, which already includes Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, subject to injury.
Given the existing currency crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, an $11 million deal can be a smart deal for the Reds. Mandi is expected to bring great joy to Liverpool after impressing at the bottom of Real Betis alongside Marc Bartra. The duo have contributed variety to the defense of Real Betis and Mandi is expected to thrive alongside Van Dijk, Matip and Gómez.
Photo of Liverpool FC: AFP / Paul ELLIS
Liverpool recently finished their 30-year wait by winning the league name. The 2019-20 name is also his first Premier League trophy, which is Klopp’s fourth trophy as Liverpool’s boss after the Champions League, the Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.