Liverpool have decided against signing Oumar Solet to replace Joel Matip, with the 24-year-old poised to join Udinese.
Solet ended his contract with Red Bull Salzbug in the summer and has been linked with a move to the Reds. Matip’s departure at the end of last season made a defensive signing possible for new manager Arne Slot.
Matip joined to Anfield as a free agent in 2016 after leaving Schalke. He ended his career with the Reds this summer after a series of ailments hampered his final few seasons.
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Despite his injury troubles, Matip played an important role in Jurgen Klopp’s hugely successful reign, helping the Reds win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
They may have appeared to have duplicated the trick with Solet, who showed signs of ability at Salzburg. During his four years with the club, the defender won the Austrian Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup twice in succession.
However, Liverpool have decided to pass up the opportunity to replicate the feat that helped Matip become a modern-day icon. Instead, Solet is set to join Serie A club Udinese after the two parties reached an agreement.
According to reports, Udinese is working to finalize the purchase. He was observed in the stands before the Coppa Italia victory over Salernitana last Wednesday.
The decision to disregard Solet follows a mixed week for their central defenders. Jarrell Quansah scored an own-goal to give West Ham the lead in last Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match, but Liverpool went on to win 5-1.
Then, on Saturday, Ibrahima Konate opened the scoring against Wolves before making a critical error that allowed the bottom-placed Midlanders to equalize. And boss Slot was not pleased with the Frenchman.
“The goal we conceded was clearly avoidable and unnecessary. “It came at a bad time because we had complete control of the game,” Slot told Match of the Day.
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