Liverpool have found the next Joel Matip with 19-year-old defender on their radar | OneFootball

Rising Talent Signals Readiness for Liverpool Move

Liverpool’s ongoing search for defensive reinforcements has taken on renewed urgency, and one emerging figure increasingly fits the profile of a long-term solution. Abdelhamid Ait-Boudlal, the Moroccan centre-back making rapid strides at Rennes, is producing performances that have reignited interest from Merseyside — and elevated expectations about his potential suitability for Arne Slot’s system.

The timing could hardly be more significant. Liverpool’s early-season turbulence has been shaped by the aftershocks of major change. The psychological weight of a summer tragedy, the bedding-in of multiple new signings and the sheer void left by a transformative previous manager have all contributed to a sense of instability.

Slot’s task is substantial. Establishing authority in a dressing room that has experienced both emotional upheaval and structural overhaul is no simple assignment. The Dutchman’s efforts to integrate six or seven new arrivals simultaneously have highlighted the challenging reality of maintaining cohesion while reshaping the squad. Patience may be in short supply among supporters, yet context suggests this transition phase was always going to test resolve.

Centre-Back Shortage Driving Recruitment Urgency

Injuries have sharpened Liverpool’s defensive concerns. Giovanni Leoni’s absence has reduced Slot’s senior centre-back options to just three, a figure that simply does not align with the demands of a season spanning domestic and European competition. Recruitment plans that were already important have now become essential.

Links with established names such as Marc Guehi have re-emerged, but Liverpool’s scouting department is also known for identifying high-upside, stylistically compatible talents. According to Bence Bocsak Ait-Boudlal, previously highlighted by Football Transfers as a player on the club’s radar, falls squarely into that category.

Breakthrough Season Marking Ait-Boudlal as a Standout Prospect

Since making the switch from Morocco to Europe, Ait-Boudlal has used Rennes as a developmental platform — and the results are striking. Featuring in a youthful side alongside the likes of Jeremy Jacquet and the electric Mohamed Kader Meïté, the 19-year-old has shown the kind of composure, athleticism and technical ability that attract elite clubs.

His impact has been immediate: two goals and one assist from his opening six matches underline both his attacking threat and his comfort stepping into advanced positions. His ball-carrying ability, reminiscent of Joel Matip at his peak, is already becoming a hallmark of his game. Long strides, precise control and the intuition to progress play through pressure make him an ideal fit for a possession-dominant side.

One moment against Monaco crystallised his potential. Collecting the ball in his own defensive third, Ait-Boudlal drove into midfield, delivered a pass wide, then continued his run into the penalty area. What followed — an improvised finish with his knee — demonstrated timing, confidence and sheer determination. For Liverpool, it was the sort of sequence that indicates far more than raw talent.

Profile Suited to Anfield and Slot’s System

Ait-Boudlal’s attributes align naturally with how Liverpool want to defend and build play. He is quick across the ground, assured in aerial duels and possesses an exceptional reading of the game for his age. His ability to anticipate movement, rather than simply react to it, is what marks him out as a genuinely elite prospect.

Rennes have given him the perfect bridge into European football. The next step — and the one his performances increasingly justify — could well be Anfield. Liverpool’s need for a young, progressive, physically dominant defender is clear. Ait-Boudlal’s trajectory suggests he may be ready sooner than many expected.

With the club evaluating long-term successors for senior figures in defence, the Moroccan teenager is emerging as a compelling candidate. For Liverpool, acting decisively in the coming windows could secure a generational talent before his value escalates further.