Finally, a centre back has been signed for the Premier League champions.
It has taken to the last day of January to get a deal done for a central defender and Liverpool’s recruitment team have went into the championship to get their man.
That man is Ben Davies, and not the Tottenham one that Jurgen Klopp suggested in an interview after the 3-1 victory at West Ham.
Liverpool are set to pay £500k up front for the English defender with Dutch defender Sepp Van Den Berg going the other way on a loan deal.
He is 25 years old and has never played in the top flight of English football before but has been around for some time now having made his senior debut in 2013.
Davies will sign a five year contract and wear number 28 for Liverpool.
The left-footed defender started his youth career at Preston and has only ever been at Preston permanently with several other loans over the years.
Those loan deals were at York City, Tranmere Rovers, Southport, Newport County and Fleetwood Town respectively showing that he has a lot of experience with different sides.
Of course, though it is a big step up for him with supporters maybe a bit worried by the Premier League champions signing a defender from the championship.
However, this transfer is realistically a win win for Liverpool and the players involved.
Ben Davies will go from playing in the championship to the Champions League for the Premier League champions, it will be a dream come true for him.
If he does prove himself and show that he is capable at this level Jurgen Klopp will have a centre back who has so many years left in his career, who significantly improves the depth in that position.
Sepp Van Den Berg going the other way will be waiting eagerly to get going and play some consistent games so therefore it will be an invaluable experience for him.
As well as this if Ben Davies does not hit the ground running for Liverpool it will not be a worry due to the price of the transfer however his qualities shown at Preston over the last couple of years show him to be a ideal Liverpool centre back.
One of the main reasons he is ideal is due to his progressive passing as more often than not they are successful passes starting attacks which is key to the build up play under Jurgen Klopp.
As well as this his average positioning is not spent sat on the edge of his box which is due to how Preston play, meaning that Davies is quick enough to hold a high line.
That is vital for how Liverpool defend.
Versatility is also always a key thing for Jurgen Klopp and Davies has it as he can easily slot in at left back having played there 77 times throughout his professional career so far.
This season he has played 19 times for Preston but it hasn’t been a fantastic campaign for the team from Lancashire as they sit in 11th place failing to build on last seasons near miss of the play-offs.
He has been involved in six clean sheets for The Lilywhites in that time but will now be involved in a title defence whilst also an attack for a seventh Champions League title for Liverpool.
It has been a massive turnaround for the lad and every Liverpool supporter will be backing him to make a name for himself whilst also helping the defensive crisis at the club.
Once in a lifetime chance which you would assume Ben Davies will take with both hands.
Written by Elliot Thompson
