Liverpool and Arsenal are both tracking Club Brugge left-back Maxim De Cuyper, according to Het Nieuwsblad reporter Pieter-Jan Calcoen.
The journalist posted on X (translated to English) that the Belgian international is a target for the two Premier League clubs:
“There has been a lot of interest in De Cuyper in recent months, who has now extended his contract with Club Brugge. Arsenal and Liverpool continue to follow him closely.”
As Calcoen mentions, the fullback only signed a new deal yesterday, but Club Brugge are simply protecting his value just in case a bid is received for the player.
What do Liverpool fans need to know about De Cuyper?
The 23-year-old came through Club Brugge’s academy before making his senior debut back in 2020 against Manchester United in the first leg of a Europa League knockout tie.
De Cuyper then spent a year with the B team ‘Club NXT’ prior to a loan spell at second division outfit Westerlo. After two seasons away from Brugge, he returned to become a regular starter at the start of last season.
The defender subsequently made his international debut back in June, playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Montenegro, before starting his second consecutive match versus Luxembourg. Although he was included in Belgium’s squad for the European Championships, he was an unused substitute in all four of their matches at the tournament.
A possible replacement for Robertson?
With Andy Robertson having turned 30, it is not a surprise that Liverpool‘s recruitment team are searching the market for a long-term successor.
De Cuyper is still rather inexperienced at the highest level, having not played in the Champions League so far in his career, but he is at an age where he could go on to bigger things in the future, which makes him the right type of profile for the Reds.
