Liverpool 'shortlist' highly-rated Bundesliga defender for '£43-51m' this summer

Liverpool have reportedly identified and shortlisted Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho ahead of a summer move, according to reports in Germany.

The 22-year-old has developed into a key player for both club and country across the past year and has featured 42 times so far this season. With Joel Matip likely to depart after over almost nine years at the club, Pacho is a fresh and talented option.

Confirmed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenburg, he claims that Frankfurt are aware of Liverpool’s interest in Pacho, but as of now, there has been no communication between the two clubs. “Eintracht Frankfurt, still keen about the interest from LFC in Willian #Pacho!” he posted on X. “But been told there’s no contact between the clubs at this stage. Liverpool FC price tag for the 22 y/o centre-back has been set: €50-60m in transfer fees for a transfer in summer. Contract valid until 2028.”

As mentioned above, the reported fee could fall between £43-51m (€50-60m) due to the fact his deal expires in four years time. Frankfurt have plenty of bargaining power over their key player and the Ecuadorian and Belgium league champion is valued somewhat fairly. He’s also left-footed which is also of high value in that position. It’s also a trait that Liverpool have been targeting across the past year, as the likes of Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio, Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill were both targets last summer.

Pacho’s outlying numbers are impressive across the board and he is comfortable with both receiving and carrying the ball, which is an important trait for Liverpool defenders and we saw that with how Matip used to carry the ball deep.

A new sporting director combined with a new manager - most likely Arne Slot - will make the decisions on signings this summer but it is likely a centre-back will arrive given Virgil van Dijk is 32, Jarell Quansah has had one full season, Joe Gomez has played largely at full-back this year and Ibrahima Konate often struggles with injury issues.