Who Is Daniel Svensson? Swedish Full-Back Linked to Liverpool
It is no secret that Liverpool are in the transfer market for a left-sided defender. The club has been linked to numerous players over the last twelve months.
On the list so far—according to numerous reports—has been Sporting’s Gonçalo Inácio, Ajax’s Jorrel Hato, and Benfica’s Alvaro Carreras. Now, the latest name to be linked with the Reds is Swedish fullback Daniel Svensson.
While it is true that Liverpool like to keep their cards close to their chests in the market, there is no smoke without fire. It is very likely the club will sign a left-back or a left-footed centre-back with the versatility to play wide.
But who is Daniel Svensson, and how could he benefit Arne Slot’s Reds?
Who Is Daniel Svensson?
Daniel Svensson is a 22-year-old Swedish left-back for Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga. The defender comes in at 6 feet tall, and has spent the majority of his short career so far in Denmark.
Svensson’s versatility is one of his standout abilities, often drawing comparisons to players like Eduardo Camavinga. Similar to Camavinga, Svensson has the skill to seamlessly transition between left-back and central midfield roles, allowing his team to use a fluid formation and the option to be flexible in their setup.
Svensson is quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in Scandinavian football, but how would he fit in at Liverpool?
How Does He Fit Liverpool?
When it comes to how he shapes up compared to the other Liverpool left-backs, it becomes clear that Svensson seems to fit the mould of what Andy Robertson‘s job used to be rather than the one he does now. Unfortunately, the data for Kostas Tsimikas was not available due to not hitting the minimum minutes requirement on Data.MB.
With Arne Slot, the Scotsman doesn’t seem to bomb forward quite as often, but according to the data, this seems to be the exact type of left-sided fullback Daniel Svensson is.
For example, the Swede has 4.28 Passes to Penalty Area Per 90 compared to Robertson’s 2.29. When it comes to Crosses Per 90, Svensson has 3.49 with the Liverpool man on 2.18.
The FC Nordsjælland also ventures into the box more often, with 2.38 touches in the opponents box per 90 compared to his Anfield counterparts 2.29. The 22-year-old is more adventurous moving forward with 2.45 Dribbles Per 90 and 60% success rate. Whereas the No. 26 only has 0.45 Dribbles Per 90.
However, the defensive side of his game is where things get interesting. The Swedish international is vastly outperforming the current Liverpool man.
- Daniel Svensson:
- Defensive Duels Per 90: 5.2
- Success Rate: 71%
- Andrew Robertson:
- Defensive Duels Per 90: 5.67
- Success Rate: 52%
So not only is Daniel Svensson winning his duels at a higher rate, but he is only marginally competing in less than Robertson.
Option to Invert On Both Wings?
While it is clear that Liverpool’s left-back does not currently play the same style as Klopp deployed Robertson in, Svensson’s ability to play in central midfield could be a driving factor.
With the Swedish man’s versatility, it would allow Slot to deploy the inverted full-back on the opposite side. Trent Alexander-Arnold has stated that the Dutchman gives him the freedom to know when to come into midfield or stay wide.
“He gives us that information throughout the week, throughout the game, leading up to the game. He paints scenarios so that we have answers to everything, so it’s kind of like, if they press this way, this is where we’re going to be positioned – and if they press a different way, then we’ll position ourselves this way”
Having the choice to rotate which full-back inverts throughout different periods of the game could give the Reds another edge to their game. This tactical nous would add another dimension to their build-up play and ability to break down teams.
How Much Will He Cost?
There is no reported transfer value set for Daniel Svensson, but you would expect the fee to be minimal. Only three players in Danish Superliga history have sold for more than €10 million, with the highest being Ernest Nuamah, who was sold for €25 million, at least according to Transfermarkt.
This piece of business certainly screams Michael Edwards, and a move back to this type of recruitment would likely be welcomed by Reds fans.
After all, this way of doing transfers was how they signed Kop legend Andy Robertson in the first place.
Securing the services won’t be easy, however. Svensson currently has a contract that runs until 2027. Additionally, the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested in the young defender.
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