Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has suggested that the Reds should not hesitate to sign Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich, calling it a "no-brainer".
Kimmich, who is versatile enough to play both in midfield and as a right-back, has only one year remaining on his contract with the Bundesliga giants, sparking rumours of a potential summer exit.
Johnson believes that Kimmich would be a valuable addition to Arne Slot's squad at Anfield and they should leave no stone unturned in pursuit of Germany's Euro 2024 star. Speaking to Betfred, Johnson explained: "Yes, absolutely, especially if he's available for a cut-price fee.
"He's played for a top club and won everything that there is to win. These players are hard to come by, so if you can get him for less than you'd usually have to pay, then it's a no-brainer. They should do whatever they can to sign him."
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These comments from Johnson follow reports that Liverpool has been given the opportunity to sign Kimmich. As per Mundo Deportivo, the Reds might intensify their pursuit to outbid Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona for his services.
Currently, Kimmich is showcasing his skills for Germany at Euro 2024. Given his versatility, it will be intriguing to see where he would fit into the new Reds manager Slot's plans.
Liverpool already boast a versatile defender in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who often steps into midfield when in possession, allowing him to influence the game from the centre of the pitch.
While Kimmich is capable of playing in midfield, he was not fully trusted in that position by former manager Thomas Tuchel last season. Instead, Tuchel preferred to start 20-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic over Kimmich centrally during Bayern's crucial matches.
Bayern made significant efforts last season to sign Fulham's Joao Palhinha to bolster their defence, highlighting Tuchel's preference for deploying Kimmich at right-back. This could potentially create more issues for Liverpool.
With Alexander-Arnold firmly established as Liverpool's first-choice right-back, Kimmich may find himself competing with the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot for a place in midfield.
This is a question that Michael Edwards and his team will need to ponder should they decide to pursue Kimmich. Liverpool already have a surplus of midfielders, and it remains uncertain how Slot plans to utilise these players in the upcoming Premier League season.
