A Manchester United fan, a Croatian recommended by Dejan Lovren and a Turkey international who idolises Virgil van Dijk… who can Jurgen Klopp sign to ease Liverpool’s centre-back crisis before the January window shuts?
A Manchester United fan, a Croatian recommended by Dejan Lovren and a Turkey international who idolises Virgil van Dijk… who can Jurgen Klopp sign to ease Liverpool’s centre-back crisis before the January window shuts?
Better late than never, as the saying goes. Liverpool are finally delving into the transfer market to bring in a centre-back and ease their defensive woes.
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez facing a battle to play at all this season, Joel Matip hurting ankle ligaments in the 3-1 win over Tottenham and Fabinho sidelined with a muscle injury, a reinforcement cannot arrive soon enough for Jurgen Klopp.
Summer moves for Dayot Upamecano of Red Bull Leipzig and Bayern Munich‘s David Alaba have been mooted but Klopp needs someone through the door now. So who are the candidates to arrive at Anfield and ease the defensive injury fears? Sportsmailtakes a closer look.
Jurgen Klopp needs to sign a central defender for Liverpool before transfer window closes
IBRAHIMA KONATE – RED BULL LEIPZIG
A partner of Upamecano at the German side, Ibrahima Konate has played 12 times in all competitions so far this season, including in the 5-0 defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League so far this season.
The 21-year-old was signed by Leipzig from Sochaux in 2017 and he has represented France up to Under 21 level.
But would Leipzig be willing to sanction a departure mid-season to a team that they are due to face in the last 16 of the Champions League? It would be unlikely – Liverpool would probably have to pay over the odds.
DUJE CALETA-CAR – MARSEILLE
A Croatia international with 10 caps to his name, Duje Caleta-Car is a tall, ball playing centre-half who is a regular for Ligue 1 side Marseille.
He has been with the French club for two years, plying his trade in Austria with Paching and Red Bull Salzburg beforehand.
Marseille signed him for £16.8million and at 24 has his best years ahead of him so Liverpool would likely have to reach deep into their pockets if the Croatian is the man Klopp wants to ease the burden.
West Ham were mooted as an option for Caleta-Car in the summer transfer window last year, with a potential move believed to cost around £25m. His Croatia team-mate and former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren said at the time that he could flourish in the Premier League.
‘In my opinion, Duje could easily play in England,’ Lovren said. ‘He is physically very strong, stronger than other players. He will explode in a few years and become even stronger.’
Duje Caleta-Car (right) of Marseille is highly rated by former Liverpool man Dejan Lovren
MANUEL AKANJI – BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Klopp could, alternatively, turn to his contacts at his old club in Germany and move for Manuel Akanji, a 25-year-old Switzerland international.
He has played 26 times in all competitions for club and country this season and with Borussia Dortmund currently enduring a slide in their form and dropping out of the top four of the Bundelsiga, it would seem unlikely that they want to let one of their regular defenders depart.
But Akanji’s current contract at the club is gradually running down – it expires in the summer of 2022 so if an enticing offer is made by Liverpool, it could bring Dortmund to the table.
He is comfortable on the ball and possesses a high level of speed. But one thing for Liverpool fans to remember though – Akanji is a Manchester United fan!
‘Many know that Manchester United has been my favourite club since childhood,’ he was quoted as saying by Bleacher Report in 2018. ‘It would be nice to play there, but that’s not an issue right now. I am very satisfied in Dortmund.’
Manuel Akanji (left), of Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland, could be an option for Liverpool
OZAN KABAK – SCHALKE
Twenty-year-old Ozan Kabak has been linked with Liverpool before. He has also played under David Wagner, one of Klopp’s best friends, so the Liverpool boss knows exactly who to turn to if he needs an opinion about the defender’s capabilities.
And Kabak’s idol is none other than Virgil van Dijk, a man who he would initially arrive to help cover.
‘My personal aim is to become a top defender in maybe two or three years, like Virgil van Dijk. He’s my idol, I really like him,’ Kabak said last year. ‘I like his style and how he plays, so I can say he’s my football idol.’
Kabak has played 19 times so far for club and country but it has been a gruelling season for Schalke. They are last in the Bundesliga with seven points from 18 games, 10 adrift from safety.
Ozan Kabak (left) idolises Virgil van Dijk but has had a difficult season so far with Schalke
