Who is Willian Pacho? Liverpool transfer 'priority' likened to two Premier League stars

Liverpool is trying desperately to remain in the Premier League title race and is also in the process of appointing a successor to Jürgen Klopp. Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is the front-runner for the job, but whoever gets the role, focus will inevitably soon shift to the transfer market.

Klopp will bequeath a talented and deep squad to the Reds’ next manager. One area which will need addressing is center-back though. Joël Matip is out of contract this summer, Ibrahima Konaté is sadly never too far from an injury and Virgil van Dijk will be 33 when next season gets underway. Even the greatest can't outrun age forever.

It has been reported that Liverpool is looking to sign Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho. But would the 22-year-old be a suitable signing for the Reds, with or without Slot in charge?

READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold could be forced to change by Arne Slot tactics at Liverpool

READ MORE: Arne Slot backroom team - Three coaches who could follow Feyenoord boss to Liverpool

The Ecuadorian is in his first season in the Bundesliga, having moved from Royal Antwerp last summer. It has been reported that Liverpool has made Pacho its ‘priority for the defence’, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Eintracht Frankfurt has supposedly decided that an offer in the region of $64.2m (£51.5m/€60m) would convince them to part with the Ecuador international, who has made 10 appearances for his country. Pacho’s current contract runs for another four seasons, through to the summer of 2028.

Data from FBRef likens him to the Milan pair of Simon Kjær and Malick Thiaw, as well as Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi and Wolves’ Max Kilman if you’re looking for a Premier League point of reference. Pacho is in the top 16 per cent of defenders in Europe’s big five leagues for all four of blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles, though defensive statistics are inevitably dictated by how much defending the team has to do and not by player quality alone.

Equally, he has started all-but one game for the team with the sixth best defensive record in Germany, so the Ecuadorian has clearly done plenty of solid defending in 2023/24. “Willian is a very clever player, who listens well and is quick to implement what is asked of him,” is the verdict of Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Krosche. “His speed and strength in the tackle are what make him stand out,” he added, and such skills are why Liverpool may be interested in signing Pacho.

Liverpool.com says: It is not Liverpool's style to sign players who have four years remaining on their contract. However, the reported price would not put the Reds off if Pacho is the target they value above all other central defenders. At the very least, he looks good enough for Liverpool to be monitoring at this still-early stage of his career.