Player Analysis- Kostas Tsimikas

[TLW]

Liverpool have made their first entry into the transfer market this summer with the signing of Greek international Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiakos.

The left-back fills a major hole in the squad, that being a back-up for the tireless Andy Robertson.

It has been a hole that many fans have been hoping to see filled for quite a while as while Robbo is one of the best in the world in his position, just like any player, he needs a competitor in the squad to keep pushing him to greater heights.

For a while it seemed like Norwich youngster Jamal Lewis would be that player with the Reds closing in on the deal, however the two teams could not agree on a fee and Liverpool acted very swiftly to get Tsimikas over the line with Leicester reportedly very keen.

 

TLW spoke to @bobbeans83 from the ThrylosWorld website who has tracked the progress of Tsimikas over the years.

He confirmed that Liverpool have a real bargain on their hands.

“You've got yourself an absolute gem of a player in Tsimikas. At £11m a real snip. Klopp will love him and I think he can get Tsimikas playing his "heavy metal football"! 

“He will not only arrive at Anfield to provide cover for Robertson he will be providing competition for him!

“Kostas has become a shining light in our team these past two seasons.

 

"We also had Leonardo Koutris (another top Greek prospect, who himself was linked with big Serie A moves) at left-back - but once Tsimikas broke into the first team there was no taking that shirt from him.

 

The Olympiakos expert said that Tsimikas is purely a LB but he has got all-round qualities in a defensive and attacking sense.

“He plays only as a left-back at this stage of his career and maybe that is the one shortfall in his game is his lack of versatility as can only play one position.

"But on the other side of the coin, he does a very good job in that position. He's an attacking LB, that makes over-lapping runs and his delivery into the box is excellent. 

“He can be exciting to watch with his runs down the left to the byline and cutting it in to find a team mate. He'll often come inside, to be found attacking the box and isn't afraid to have a shot from the edge of the area. 

“He isn't a greedy player, however, and will always look for another player if they are in a better position. For someone that looks so slight, he can defend as well. He is a comfortable defender and often pulls off well timed last ditch tackles to bail out his team mates. 

Like many young players, Tsimikas has had to travel around Europe to get his break, but it has done him the world of good.

“Earlier in his career he's spent half a season on loan in Denmark & Holland, so he will bring with him a maturity & experience of having to adapt to living abroad and knowledge of more than just Greek football. 

“He has also been a mainstay of our European team the last two seasons, featuring 25 times. Eight of those 25 games have been against PL opposition: Burnley, Spurs, Arsenal & Wolves. So he will be well placed to adapt to the English game quickly. “

Tsimikas is viewed as someone who is very low maintenance and someone who has the team ethos that Klopp loves in a player.

"I can't really see any weaknesses to his game. Which is surprising really, as there is usually something. But as mentioned, he's equally adept to going forward and defending.

 

"He's never caused controversy off the pitch and in the media. He has a good temperament on the pitch. He's a team player and produces 100% effort for the full 90 minutes. 
 

“He is that good going forward, if he can add goals to his game I could see him following the Gareth Bale route and advance up the pitch into a midfield & wing role.”

From this in-depth analysis, the Greek defender seems like the perfect fit.

Welcome aboard Kostas.
 

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