Liverpool are looking to offload their second player to Napoli in the summer, as Rafael Benitez is thought to be closing in on bringing Martin Skrtel to Naples.
According to reports from The Mirror, the Reds are willing to send the Slovakian skipper on a season-long-loan while insisting on a clause that makes the deal permanent if the 28-year-old remains fit throughout next season.
Skrtel was eager to fight for his place at the Anfield club but it seems like he will have pack his bags and reunite with Pepe Reina in Italy soon. One can easily draw a foregone conclusion that his career at Liverpool is simply all but over.
Skrtel started the last season well, pairing alongside Denmark skipper Daniel Agger, but became too error prone as the season progressed (for instance back-pass to Carlos Tevez for Manchester City’s equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Anfield), as a result of which, he was dropped to the bench while Rodgers picked veteran Jamie Carragher ahead of him throughout the second half of the season.
The move will serve all the parties happy. Skrtel will reunite with the manager who bought him at Anfield at the first place and if anyone who could resurrect his career from here on, it is him.
His departure will free up the wage-bill and subsequently will hand Rodgers the much necessary cash to delve into the transfer market, and if the reports are to be believed, the Reds are looking to sign one of the most talented young centre-backs in the world at present – Kyriakos Papadopoulos from Schalke 04.
Liverpool have already added Kolo Toure to the squad from Manchester City on a free transfer and are further looking to add Lorenzo Melgarejo from Benfica.
Defence has been the weak link for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool throughout last season and in order to succeed next season in their quest for the Champions league, the Irishman has to make sure that he has addressed his cardinal problems before the start of the season. Skrtel departing would provide Liverpool with the necessary ammunition in the transfer market leaving it to the manager and his scouts to identify a proper solution for the Reds.
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