Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up 22-year-old French left-back Adrien Truffert as a potential successor to Andy Robertson.
Arne Slot‘s tenure at Anfield kicked off with a bang in the Premier League on Saturday, with a 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Ipswich. However, the transfer market has been less kind to the Dutchman.
The Reds have yet to make any new signings this summer, missing out on top targets like Anthony Gordon and Martin Zubimendi. Now, it seems they’re setting their sights on Truffert, who shone at the Paris Olympics and could be the ideal backup for Jurgen Klopp stalwart Robertson, 30, without breaking the bank.
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According to L’Equipe, Liverpool along with fellow Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Manchester United are all keen on snapping up the young Frenchman. Truffert is a product of his current club Rennes’ academy and is considered one of France’s top defensive talents.
At just 22, he’s already made over 150 appearances for his childhood club, racking up 21 assists along the way, reports the Mirror. The young star is currently valued at around £15.3m but, given his age and the fact that his contract doesn’t run out until 2026, any fee paid for Truffert could climb higher.
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(Image: Getty Images)
PSG, who recently signed Truffert’s team-mate and fellow Olympian Desire Doue, reportedly had an interest in the defender and could swoop back in following Lucas Hernandez’s injury. Paris Saint-Germain’s hunt for fresh talent led them to Truffert before the Paris Olympics shone a spotlight on him under Thierry Henry, catapulting his prospects across Europe.
Truffert dazzled for France, solidifying the left flank in a manner akin to Liverpool’s Robertson, whom he might succeed or back up at Anfield. Although Kostas Tsimikas recently pledged his long-term allegiance to Liverpool, at 28, he’s not a young player and doubts about his ability to nail down a first team place remain, meaning the Reds might soon be on the lookout for fresher legs to fill Robertson’s boots or offer respite.
(Image: PA)
But talk of a new left-back contender hasn’t ruffled Robertson, who’s buzzing about Slot’s move to Liverpool and eager about what lies ahead for the team, despite the departure of Klopp, under whom he became an ever-present at Anfield and won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.
Speaking to Sky Sports before Euro 2024, Robertson said: “Look, I’ve not really given it much thought,” regarding his future with Liverpool. “Obviously, I’ll now try and switch off physically, mentally, like I always try and do.
(Image: PA Images)
“Then, it will be full focus on the new era at Liverpool and trying to get off to the best possible start, helping in every way possible to make that successful for him as well. I’ve got no doubts that we can keep that momentum going, and from all the reports we’ve had, the manager is very good, and I can’t wait to see that up close.”
“You have to be open-minded because the last eight or nine years were pretty special, and we just knew the way it was going. All other clubs were changing managers and things like that but we knew what we had and what we were going to get. And now, they’re going a bit into the unknown from the fans’ point of view, but it has to be exciting.”