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Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

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Liverpool fans react as Barcelona reportedly shortlist Joel Matip

Tom Procter
Tom Procter

Liverpool fans are less than pleased to read reports linking Barcelona with a move for Joel Matip.

Barca boss Ronald Koeman is on the lookout for a new centre-half, with Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi and Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger also under consideration.

The Spanish giants would ideally like to land Eric Garcia from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old is out of contract next year, and he is expected to head to the Nou Camp on a free transfer.

Manchester City v Liverpool - Premier League
(Photo by Martin Rickett – Pool/Getty Images)

But Barca would still be somewhat short of centre-back options even if they signed Garcia.

Plus Samuel Umtiti’s injury record has been a little concerning in recent times.

Matip supposedly being on Barca’s radar is quite a surprise – the Cameroonian has been a great servant for the Reds, and is a brilliant option for Jurgen Klopp in the absence of Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez.

Currently, both those players have long-term injuries meaning big things are expected of the former Schalke man in the coming months.

(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

If he can stay fit then he will be playing every game possible, meaning he will be on show for other teams to regularly cast their eyes over.

Liverpool will surely be dismissive of any future offer from the Catalan heavyweights for £100,000-a-week star Matip () though, even if his own injury record is not perfect.

On social media, lots of Reds supporters laughed off the idea of the club selling Matip to Barca: