It’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction during the silly season, but regardless of which side of the fence you fell on when rumours emerged that Liverpool had agreed a fee in the region of £12mil with Bundesliga side FC Cologne for the services of highly rated fullback Jonas Hector, you probably wanted to believe it was true — that is, unless you’re the sporting director of the German outfit.
“There is no offer from Liverpool. And for the sums being spoken about, we cannot take this seriously”, Jorg Schmadtke told German tabloid BILD before doubling down in the Express. “There’s nothing in it. There is no question of an offer from Liverpool,” he said, waving off suggestions that the 26-year old was headed for Merseyside. “If someone comes up with double [the offer], then I might answer the phone. But I believe that Jonas plays in the new season with us.”
The Reds, of course, could deal with an upgrade on the left flank. One only needs to look to the Europa League final for evidence that Alberto Moreno isn’t quite cutting the mustard. The Spaniard may be class going forward, but his defensive abilities leave a lot to be desired. You can couple that with the fact that Hector – who also knows a thing or two about getting to the byline – is expected to be Germany’s first choice fullback at the European Championships this summer while Moreno is back in Liverpool walking his dog from the comfort of a segway.
“It might be similar that I find my bearings in the intermediate spaces. I know where I have to be to have the ball passed to me,” Hector told 11 Freunde magazine, reminiscing on his time playing as an attacking midfielder for fifth-division side SV Auersmacher. “Thomas Muller, as you know, does it very well in the attacking department when he’s between the midfield and the defence. I might still have it in my blood as someone who has played the No. 10 position.”
