Joel Matip Replacement? Liverpool scout Lucas Beraldo "a number of times"

Liverpool have a keen interest in signing Lucas Beraldo from Sao Paulo with the Brazilian one of the most promising young defenders on the club's radar.

Jurgen Klopp has been keen to add a new defender to his squad since the summer transfer window. The midfield rebuild was prioritised but one of the club's priorities remains signing a young, talented new centre-back.

19-year-old Beraldo possesses a range of passing that helps him orchestrate build-up play from the back but is also able to drift past opponents to retain the ball when pressed.

Wolves saw a bid for Beraldo rejected during the summer, before they signed Girona centre-back Santiago Bueno for £8.5 million.

Liverpool have been keeping an "increasingly close eye on his development" as they assess how best to plan for a future when Joel Matip leaves the club.

Matip played a tragic part in the 2-1 defeat to Spurs although he was immense alongside Virgil van Dijk as the two centre-backs almost marshalled their team to a gruelling 1-1 draw.

The 32-year-old was unfortunate to score an own goal in the 96th minute after the Reds weathered pressure despite being down to ten men after Curtis Jones' red card.

Diogo Jota was then given his marching orders, further compounding the difficulty of the job hand with Liverpool reduced to nine men.

The 2-1 defeat aside, Matip has been in fine form of late but his contract expires at the end of the season on 30 June 2023.

Liverpool scout Beraldo "a number of times"

90Min reports that Liverpool's scouting team have been watching Beraldo over the last few months, attending games "a number of times". Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Ligue 1's AS Monaco and Lyon have also been scouting the Brazilian.

Beraldo is said to be a potential successor to Matip but also to Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands and Liverpool captain is out of contract in 2025 but there have yet to be serious suggestions that he will be sold or released in two years' time.

They're both 32 but it seems doubtful that Liverpool will sell van Dijk with the 2023/24 season so far offering hope of a return to full strength for Virgil.

Since his ACL rupture in 2021, he hasn't been able to reach the same heights or consistency as when he narrowly lost out to Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or.

So far this season, van Dijk has been playing at heights rarely seen last season and his captain's display to guide Liverpool within seconds of an unprecedented draw is evidence of his form returning.

His place in the side is not in any doubt. The ruthless consistency he displayed before his injury may not be the same but he's still one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Liverpool are far more in need of a defensive midfielder to protect the back four. With reports of interest in Fluminense midfielder Andre, the Reds may soon have the player they need to take their new midfield talent to new heights.