Liverpool are in dire need of a defender. The Reds are down to just one centre back due to an injury crisis at the back. With so few players available to him, many believe that Jürgen Klopp will dip into the transfer market in January. Simon Hughes has delivered an update on Liverpool and their stance on the upcoming transfer window.
Liverpool gamble backfires
Liverpool gambled this summer.
Whilst the Reds had a strong window, the decision to sell Dejan Lovren without replacing him was one which many fans and pundits thought was a bit too risky.
The move placed a lot of faith in the fitness of the Liverpool back line in the face of a hectic schedule.
Just a couple of months into the season the gamble has backfired massively.
Virgil van Dijk will miss the rest of the campaign with a ruptured ACL whilst Joe Gomez will be lucky to play again after sustaining a knee injury of his own.
This has left Joel Matip as the last man standing in defence, we need reinforcements.
Simon Hughes Liverpool transfer update
Speaking The Athletic’s Red Agenda podcast, Simon Hughes delivered a Liverpool transfer update, confirming that the Reds are looking to buy a defender but saying that they were looking towards the summer.
The journalist said that it was always in the works, suggesting it was a plan in place even before the injury crisis:
“I was told not so long ago that Liverpool were definitely looking to sign someone next summer.
“It’s definitely a position (centre back) where they’ve gone into the season with a fewer number of players compared to last season.
“Then all of a sudden you’ve only got Joel Matip, so they’re three players down on last season in what is a key position.”
What RTK has to say
It is no surprise that Liverpool were planning to move for a defender in the summer transfer window.
They likely did just gamble on the fitness of Virgil van Dijk and co.
At worst they may have seen Virgil lining up alongside Fabinho, at very worst alongside Nat Phillips.
They likely never anticipated a scenario where they lost the Dutchman for the entire season.
Whether they’ll bring forward their plans though, that’s another matter.
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