Aly Cissokho and Jose Enrique are not Champions League standard left-backs, and now Liverpool have qualified for the competition after several agonising years without, Brendan Rodgers can afford to set his sights a little higher in the transfer market.
This summer will be pivotal; it will determine whether or not the Reds can challenge for the Premier League title again or slide a little in comparison to their rivals.
There are defensive problems aplenty, but the search must start at left-back.
Ricardo Rodriguez, Wolfsburg
Ricardo Rodriguez is the left-back everyone wants, and even those who don’t catch much Bundesliga action are familiar with him thanks to his astonishing WhoScored? scores.
The 21-year-old will cost a chunk, circa £15 million-plus, but he’s worth the investment: he has the power, size, physique and technical ability to “own” a flank like David Alaba.
He’s already made more than 150 senior appearances and will start for Switzerland at the World Cup.
Davide Santon, Newcastle United
Davide Santon has quietly been impressing at left-back with Newcastle United for three seasons now.
He must be eager to play Champions League football once again despite enjoying a fan favourite status at St. James’ Park, and at 23 years of age, the time is right for him to move.
He’s naturally a right-back, but for both Internazionale and Newcastle he occupied both sides when asked.
Yuto Nagatomo, Internazionale
It’s never quiet, or stable, at Internazionale and this season is no different.
The clamour for Walter Mazzarri to be removed grows by the day despite improving on last season’s points tally; no player appears to be truly safe given the regime instability, and Yuto Nagatomo could be quite the catch.
The Japanese international plays both full-back positions and wide midfield, with good strength, pace and work-rate to boot. He impacts in the final third and doesn’t neglect his defensive stall.
Juan Bernat, Valencia
Valencia finished well off the chase for a Champions League spot in La Liga this season, but with billionaire Peter Lim on board as owner, fans can start to dream of a repeat of 2004 once again.
The plan to get there won’t involve selling the club’s best players, but anyone who’s been checking in on los Che this season will have noticed Juan Bernat.
He’s shown a remarkable ability to play up and down the left side, boasts impressive stamina and can be moulded into a tactically flexible outlet by Brendan Rodgers.
Daley Blind, Ajax
Daley Blind was once mocked, heavily, by Ajax fans as he tried to emulate his father Danny’s success at the Amsterdam ArenA.
But something click about 18 months ago, and he used the 2013-14 season to propel himself into an undroppable position in the Netherlands squad and win his fourth Eredivisie title.
He plays left-back naturally but can also deputise in midfield, giving Brendan Rodgers flexibility and freedom when it comes to placing him in the side.
Jose Enrique is a very good left back, he was struggling with a bad injury for a long time which just like Gerard and Lucas who where also being patched up after each game. You don’t go to the games and see the pain on the players faces.