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Liverpool are desperately struggling to find a solution to their defensive crisis before Monday’s transfer deadline, and the club is considering a short-term deal until the end of this season.
While Reds coach Jurgen Klopp has stated that he would like to find a long-term solution to his team’s current defensive woes, he has accepted that it may not be possible before the 11pm deadline on 1 February.
The last gasp of Liverpool’s search for a defensive signing will inevitably limit their options, with club sources suggesting that many of the potential targets they would consider signing will not be available this month.
One name that has not been ruled out by Liverpool insiders is Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, who could be made available on a free transfer if the Gunners agree to cancel the German World Cup winner’s contract.
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On Sunday, Liverpool look set to start their twelfth different pair of central defenders in the Premier League this season (PA Graphics)
Mustafi, who is also a target of Italian Lazio, will be out of contract this summer and it looks like he will be leaving with a free transfer so I would expect an excellent signing on the fee and would be in a strong position to negotiate a big deal. with your next employer.
RB Leipzig’s duo of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate have been linked to a move to Liverpool, but will not be allowed to do so until next summer.
Meanwhile, Lille defender Sven Botman is a player Liverpool have an interest in, but the finances involved in sealing that deal may be out of the club’s budget this month, unless Lille considers a cut-price deal due to your own financial problems.
Klopp has made it clear that he wants to sign a defender who can be a part of his team for years to come, but accepts that ambition may not be feasible before Monday.
“It’s true, that’s right,” said the Reds boss. “The solution, how we do it is, we find solutions for now this way, so now it’s a (necessary) solution for Sunday for the West Ham game, that’s how we see it.
“But in an ideal world, it would be that the short term solution is also the long term solution, that would be great! I don’t know if we can do that, but we’ll see.
“So fix the problem we have now, that’s how we normally do it. And then we’ll see how it will look in the future.
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An injury to Joel Matip’s ankle ligament means Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has no senior central defenders in shape (Peter Powell / PA)
“You know the situation with the central halves. You know the clubs where the central halves play. You know the clubs where they are obviously interesting because everyone talks about them.
“Tell me if one of these clubs needs the money and needs to sell a player. And if it needs money, then it wants crazy money.”
“As a soccer fan, you can sit at home and think ‘They have to do something.’ But they don’t.”
Read John Aldridge’s verdict on Liverpool’s defensive collapse at this weekend’s Sunday World.
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