Liverpool at PIVOTAL moment as significant downgrade discussed | OneFootball

Liverpool are at a pivotal moment as they rebuild their squad. A massive downgrade has now been discussed.

Liverpool spent an incredible amount of money over the summer in order to rebuild their title-winning squad. Of course, they also sold plenty of players to fund it.

The Reds had a goal in mind, though. They wanted to revitalise the group, signing stars who can carry things over into the next era.

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Florian Wirtz is certainly a part of that at just 22, while Hugo Ekitiké is the same age. Milos Kerkez is even younger, while Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak have plenty of years left.

At centre-back, Liverpool 'only' moved for one player - Giovanni Leoni. The 18-year-old is certainly one for the future but the Reds will need more than that.

The situation at centre-back is a complex one, in fact. Virgil van Dijk will need to slow down as least a bit as he plays out his two-year contract. There's a good chance Liverpool need to replace him at the end of it.

Then there's Ibrahima Konate, whose contract expires in July and it doesn't appear that he'll sign a new one. Even Joe Gomez, Liverpool's longest-serving player, has been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

In other words, Liverpool need a couple of centre-backs in order to move into their next era. The entire defence could conceivably change in two years' time.

But with that in mind, we think they might be heading for a massive downgrade.

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Liverpool's post-Van Dijk downgrade

The truth is, Liverpool will suffer a downgrade no matter who replaces Van Dijk. He's one of the greatest defenders we've ever seen and he won't be replaced like-for-like.

That's just the reality with any truly great player. Liverpool will suffer the same with Mo Salah and Alisson Becker, in fact.

But just how far Liverpool fall is manageable. That's why it's strange to see yet more links to Gleison Bremer at centre-back.

The Brazilian has long been linked with Liverpool - there were reports in Italy back when he was at Torino. Now they're back, with the likes of Calciomercato.it claiming the Reds are very interested in signing Bremer this season as they move on from Marc Guehi.

It would be a very strange move, if only because Bremer has never demonstrated an ability to give Liverpool what the likes of Van Dijk do. That can be seen purely in aerial duels - a vital part of how the team defends.

Now, Van Dijk is the best in the world at this. He's currently winning 80 per cent of his duels this season in the Premier League and has never dropped below 72 per cent for an entire campaign.

Bremer, in contrast, has never reached 65 per cent. And that's with significantly fewer duels, too.

Van Dijk, for instance, has never averaged fewer than three duels won in a campaign. Bremer has only reached this number once and when he did, his success rate was 47 per cent.

Konate doesn't boast Van Dijk's numbers but he's been over 71 per cent for the last three seasons. He's currently averaging 79 per cent this season.

Bremer would be an incredible downgrade just on this one stat. Liverpool would be transformed in a negative direction by paying big money for him and handing an even semi-prominent role.

So we just can't see it happening, surely. Liverpool are in a difficult spot when it comes to finding elite centre-backs but Bremer just really isn't it.