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Who is Liverpool-linked Leandro Cabrera?

With Liverpool being linked with Leandro Cabrera, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the Espanyol defender.

While Liverpool sit 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League standings, it would come as a surprise if Jurgen Klopp is not active during the next transfer window.

A replacement could be required for Dejan Lovren, who may leave Anfield with just over a year remaining on his contract.

With Espanyol facing the possibility of relegation from La Liga, recent reports have indicated that Liverpool are contemplating an approach for the versatile Leandro Cabrera.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at a player whose release clause is allegedly set at €15m (£13.3m).


Where does he play?

Of Cabrera's 28 appearances for Getafe and Espanyol in all competitions this season, all but two have come from the middle of the backline.

However, the 28-year-old is also capable of featuring at left-back, which is arguably the main reason why Klopp will place priority on his signature as he bids to find established backup for Andrew Robertson.

Background?

Although Cabrera hails from Uruguay, he has spent all but six months of the last 11 years plying his trade in Spain.

However, just 70 of his 294 league appearances have been made at the top tier, most notably this season when he has made 25 outings in La Liga.

The bulk of his games have come at Real Zaragoza and Getafe, whom he helped to a fifth-placed finish in La Liga during the last campaign.

Cabrera also made four starts for Atletico Madrid at the back end of the 2009-10 campaign, a period which saw him named on the substitutes' bench for the Europa League final against Fulham.

Leandro Cabrera in action for Getafe with Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy in La Liga on January 4, 2020© Reuters

How has he performed this season?

Before leaving Getafe for Espanyol in January, Cabrera had just starred in a 3-0 away win over Leganes, which represented his 18th league start of the season.

All things considered, he had performed solidly for a team who are again competing for a spot in the Champions League, meaning that it came as a surprise when he made the switch to lowly Espanyol.

Since moving to the Barcelona-based team, Cabrera has helped them to six points from seven games, which includes draws against Sevilla and Atletico.

International experience?

Perhaps surprisingly, Cabrera is yet to make his senior debut for Uruguay. At the age of 28, he may feel that only a move to a bigger club this summer could give him a chance of making an impact on the international scene.

However, as a youngster, he represented his country at two Under-20 World Cups, with one of his seven appearances coming during a 1-0 win over England.

Is he likely to feature in the starting lineup?

Klopp is unlikely to regard Cabrera as anything more than a reliable backup to the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Robertson.

Nevertheless, that makes him the perfect addition to this squad, even at a price of £13.3m. While Cabrera would not play every week, he would still be provided with plenty of opportunities by his manager.

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