Journalist confirms Liverpool’s interest in 21-year-old Bundesliga star | OneFootball

Koulierakis Scouted as Liverpool Seek Defensive Balance

Defensive shortfall prompts swift action

There are few things more dangerous in football than drifting into a season undercooked. For Liverpool, that risk is real. Joe Gomez’s return home from the pre-season tour has exposed the club’s thin layer of centre-back cover, leaving just two natural options in the squad. A club chasing silverware cannot go into battle with such glaring gaps.

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That has brought Marc Guehi into sharper focus, but the Reds are also looking beyond the Premier League. According to respected Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos, scouts have been keeping tabs on Konstantinos Koulierakis. The Wolfsburg defender was monitored throughout last season, and the 21-year-old fits a very specific profile.

Left-footed centre-back adds balance

Koulierakis is not a household name, but his qualities might just be what Arne Slot’s squad lacks. He is predominantly left-footed and typically operates on the left side of a central pairing. That might sound simple, but Liverpool currently do not have a specialist in that area.

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The Greek connection runs deeper than just a scout’s report. Koulierakis shares an international dressing room with Kostas Tsimikas, and that kind of familiarity could prove helpful in adapting to life at Anfield.

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Total Football Analysis notes that the 6 foot 2 defender thrives in a traditional back four, the system Slot appears set to employ. With Virgil van Dijk ageing and no obvious heir on the left, there is logic to Liverpool casting their eye on a younger, stylistically-aligned option.

Stats raise questions but role remains clear

The raw numbers will not win over sceptics. FBref’s database shows that Koulierakis did not place in the top third of any major defensive category last season amongst his peers in Europe’s top five leagues. No standout figures for tackles, interceptions, blocks or aerial duels.

But Liverpool’s approach under their recruitment department has never been about flashy metrics alone. System fit, progression curve and temperament all carry weight. This is not a £60 million starter deal, but a move that fills a void with a player capable of learning and growing in the squad’s periphery.

Long-term value or immediate solution?

At 21, Koulierakis would not be expected to walk into the XI, but that is not the point. Liverpool need depth. Real, usable, first-team-ready depth. With the Premier League and European campaigns looming, having a left-footed defender who can slot in with minimal disruption is more than a luxury.

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The transfer window closes in just over a month. Whether this interest turns into a formal bid remains to be seen. But with the scouting groundwork already done and a potential partner in Tsimikas to ease the transition, Liverpool’s pursuit of Koulierakis looks like a carefully considered move.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Koulierakis might not set social media alight, but he fills an actual need. With Gomez injured and just two senior centre-backs available, the squad looks exposed.

Fans will naturally be clamouring for the likes of Guehi, but there’s logic in securing a high-ceiling backup who can grow into the role. Koulierakis is only 21, he is playing regular football in the Bundesliga, and he is tactically aligned to what Liverpool need on the left side.

There’s also the intangible benefit of a fellow Greek in Tsimikas who could help him settle quickly. This is the sort of detail that often gets overlooked when evaluating a transfer.

Supporters might ask if the club should be targeting someone with stronger numbers or more immediate pedigree. But Koulierakis would not be signed to start every week. He would offer structure to a squad that is still dangerously top-heavy when it comes to right-footed defenders.

If Liverpool are truly looking to prepare for life beyond Van Dijk, then a left-footed centre-back of this profile feels less like a risk and more like an inevitability. Whether Koulierakis is the one or simply part of a wider shortlist, the signs suggest movement is coming soon.