Liverpool have been dealt a hammer blow on their quest to sign Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida.
After Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong went down injured, Liverpool sprang into action to recruit a right-back who help them through this injury-laden spell.
Ex-Feyenoord captain Geertruida was Liverpool’s top target — a player who can play all across the back line and in midfield.
It now looks like they will have to redirect course, and fast, if they are to fill the vacancy before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
Who could be Liverpool’s short-term right-back transfer fix?
Lutsharel Geertruida not expected to leave Sunderland
The cost of waiting patiently in the transfer window has been laid bare as Liverpool’s top target now looks unlikely to join.
That’s according to Paul Joyce of The Times, who shared on X: “Geertruida deal not expected to happen now. Sunderland not in a position to sanction it at present. Player wanted to move and Liverpool were ready to proceed.”
It’s certainly not the news we were hoping for.
By all accounts, the Geertruida announcement felt like a matter of time, but Liverpool’s Premier League rivals weren’t prepared to lose a valuable member of the squad with so little time to organise a replacement.
FSG and co can’t afford to dwell on it, though. They have 24 hours to make a signing, and the next best option has already been identified.
Liverpool need to go hard after Rolland Sallai
It’s not the ideal target to bolster the ranks, but Liverpool view Galatasaray’s Rolland Sallai as an alternative, and they now need to go for him.
The 28-year-old may not fit the ideal age profile, but he has Champions League experience and a pre-existing relationship with Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez from the Hungary national team.
We’re past the point of being fussy. Liverpool have a chance at the Champions League, but only if they have their best players available.
If Arne Slot can’t rotate, it will spell trouble for our trophy chances.
- READ MORE: Inter Milan chief responds to Liverpool’s Denzel Dumfries interest, ‘bordering on unfairness’
If Liverpool are still serious about bringing in a new defender, this isn’t one to wait for tomorrow morning. Steps need to be taken tonight.
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