Jorg Schmadtke has already signed perfect Liverpool defender

Liverpool have been linked with a number of young midfielders this summer as the Reds revamp begins in earnest following the conclusion of a Premier League season that saw them miss out on Champions League football.

It means much of the talk since Jorg Schmadtke was confirmed as Liverpool’s new sporting director has focused on who will arrive in the centre of the park.

And that has left one potential summer signing to slip under the radar.

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Alexis Mac Allister, Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone have all been subject to intense speculation over the last 48 hours. There is no doubt the Reds’ midfield is in dire need of attention, but to ensure the same problems don’t occur in another area of the pitch in future, the correct defenders will be just as important additions this summer.

A lot will depend on how Jurgen Klopp opts to field his starting XI for the first game of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign in August, though should he choose to stick with the system that has helped his side to an 11-match unbeaten streak to end last season, then Schmadtke may not have to look hard for the perfect new recruit.

This is because the 59-year-old has already signed the man in question – Dutch prodigy Micky Van de Ven.

The 6’4 defender made the move from FC Volendam in his home country to Wolfsburg when Schmadtke occupied the sporting director position there, and has since displayed how his services could be of major use to a club such as Liverpool.

The Reds started the evolution of their defence two summers ago when Ibrahima Konate arrived in a £36m deal from RB Leipzig, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s migration to midfield could open the door for a new right-sided full-back.

Conor Bradley is likely to return to the squad this summer and Liverpool will hope that Calvin Ramsey can also make progress, having spent much of his first season at Anfield on the treatment table.

But with Joel Matip set to turn 32 in August and out of contract next summer, a new centre-back will soon be needed – and Van de Ven could tick a lot of boxes.

Firstly, the Dutchman is rapid, as seen in a moment that went viral amongst Reds supporters last week.

During that lung-busting run, Van de Ven clocked a speed of 35.9km/h, and as per the tweet itself, it is the type of speed that rivals Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s ability to successfully carry out Liverpool’s risky high line.

The 22-year-old is also versatile being a left footer who can play as either centre back or left back, and therefore could be the ideal candidate to become Virgil van Dijk’s long-term successor or, in the shorter term, give Andy Robertson a breather should rumours of a Kostas Tsimikas exit prove correct.

And negotiations could be made easier by Van de Ven’s affection for Liverpool, after a picture of him visiting Anfield did the rounds on social media this week.

But as reported by Christian Falk, Wolfsburg are in no rush to sell and the player is open about his future, so it would be up to Liverpool to test the waters with a bid in the region of the €30 million (£25.7m) asking price. Compared to other options such as RB Leipzig’s highly sought-after Josko Gvardiol, that price would be a steal.

And with Schmadtke’s contacts, it might just be one to watch as Liverpool’s evolution looks set to continue.

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