When Dejan Lovren left the club this week, so did one of the last remainders of the Pre-Klopp era at Liverpool. Adam Lallana also made his way to Brighton, meaning that Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Divock Origi, and Joe Gomez are the only remaining men who played under Brendan Rodgers. Only Henderson did so for more than a few months.
It had been clear for some time that Lovren was no longer up to the required standard at the club. After a very difficult first season at Anfield, there were times early in Klopp's time at the club where he looked assured at the back. He was even arguably Liverpool's best player in the 2018 Champions League final.
He was always likely to be moved on this summer, with Michael Edwards doing well to get £10million from Zenit St. Petersburg for his signature.
While Liverpool are likely to have a quiet summer, a direct replacement for Lovren must be on the cards. It appears a deal could be close.
According to The Mirror, Liverpool could be about to strike a deal for Real Betis defender Aissa Mandi, with the two clubs close to agreeing a fee for the 28-year old.
It is believed Edwards has offered £9million for the Algerian, which is less than £2million away from matching the Spanish club's valuation of the player.
Mandi has only 12 months remaining on his contract, meaning he is available for a knockdown price. He has been at Betis since 2016, making 29 appearances in La Liga this season. Also capable of covering at right back, he was a key part of the Algeria side that won the 2019 African Cup of Nations.
In many ways, he would be a typical Michael Edwards signing. This is exactly the type of pickup that he would typically go for, a player who is available for less than his market value due to his contract situation.
While Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Ben White this summer, Mandi would provide sufficient cover for van Dijk, Gomez, and Matip in the Liverpool defence.
