'To be honest': Former Ajax midfielder reacts after being told that Liverpool want to sign him

01/01/2025 06:00 AM

Liverpool are once again able to sign new players as the January transfer window swings open.

The Reds were very inactive in the market in 2024, but will surely have to change that this year.

Exactly what they will need to add to the Liverpool squad will become more clear once the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are resolved.

Given the latest news of Real Madrid’s approach for Alexander-Arnold, they look likely to need a new right-back at the very least.

But away from that developing situation, Liverpool also need another option at central defensive midfield.

And as rumours continue that Liverpool could return for Martin Zubimendi, Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa has reacted to suggestions that he could be on the Reds’ radar.

Azor Matusiwa reacts to Liverpool rumours

While the situations of Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah may change things, most Liverpool fans would still have a new midfielder at the top of their transfer wish list for 2025.

Although Wataru Endo has done well recently, Arne Slot clearly does not fully trust the Japanese as a back-up option to Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.

Those three players – along with Dominik Szoboszlai – are good enough to be regular starters for Slot, but Liverpool may need a different profile to back them up.

According to Give Me Sport, Rennes midfielder Azor Matusiwa has come onto the Reds radar as a potential option. And while speaking to Matusiwa himself, the outlet asked him about a possible move to Anfield.

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“To be honest, I didn’t know about any links to Liverpool and you are the first person who has told me this,” answered the 26-year-old.

“If it’s true, of course, that is nice. It means that I am doing a good job at Rennes and that is how I have to continue for the rest of the season.

“I need to carry on helping the team and then maybe something great will come in the future, but I'm not looking at anything like that right now. Of course, it's an honour if you get linked with a club like Liverpool.”

Who is Azor Matusiwa?

For many Liverpool supporters, they will not have heard of Matusiwa before and will be unaware of his qualities.

The Dutchman started his career at Ajax, coming through the youth academy before making just one appearance for the senior team.

From there, Matusiwa joined Van Dijk’s former club Groningen, before a move to France with Reims in 2021.

Good performances for the Ligue 1 side led to the former Netherlands U21 international joining Rennes in January 2024.

Having come through at Ajax, Matusiwa is as technically gifted as you’d expect but is also very much a defensive midfielder. Turning 27 in April, he is not perhaps the blockbuster signing many desire in midfield, but as a younger, fresher version of Endo, maybe he’s worth keeping an eye on.