Will Jurgen Klopp spend to bolster Premier League title push?
Tuesday 22 January 2019 13:15, UK
Will Liverpool strengthen in the January transfer window? We look at potential ins and outs and consider what key positions need filling.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted it is unlikely the Premier League leaders will do much business this month as the club look to win a first top-flight title since 1990.
However, a spate of injuries to key defenders may force the German's hand with crucial games in both the league and Champions League on the horizon.
Here, we look at who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, while Soccer Saturday pundit and former Reds captain Phil Thompson casts his eye over which areas of the team the club may look to add to in January.
This time last year, Liverpool splashed out a record £75m in order to sign Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, a move that has helped the club have the tightest defence in the Premier League this season.
But with first-choice defenders Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Trent Alexander-Arnold all currently sidelined, and Nathaniel Clyne having been loaned out to Bournemouth - James Milner has been forced to play as a makeshift full-back at times this season - Klopp's numbers are short at the back as the campaign reaches its critical stage.
So if the Liverpool boss is to enter the market in January, then it would almost certainly be to sign a defensive reinforcement.
Liverpool have already loaned out Clyne (Bournemouth), Kamil Grabara (AGF Aarhus) and Ovie Ejaria (Reading) until the end of the season, while Dominic Solanke joined Bournemouth in a deal worth £19m.
Meanwhile, according to Sky sources, there has also been talk of further loan deals involving Rafa Camacho and Ben Woodburn, and Lazar Markovic could finally be on his way out of Anfield, although the club are adamant England midfielder Adam Lallana will not be leaving in this window.
As for possible arrivals before the January window closes at the end of the month, Klopp may strengthen his injury-hit defence by making a loan move for Burnley's England centre-back James Tarkowski, says The Sun.
However, contrary to some reports, Liverpool are unlikely to re-sign Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho or reignite their interest in Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir this month.
And moves for either PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot or RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner would not happen before the summer.
I think the defender issue is quite big. We have more injuries all at once there than any other position. Joel Matip is now fit, Trent-Alexander Arnold will only miss three games I think and Joe Gomez is only a few weeks away, I believe.
James Milner has already proven he can play right back. Fabinho was a full-back in Monaco and can play centre-back too - although he now has his own injury problem.
It's very difficult because you get so comfortable being in our position in the Premier League. If you go into Spurs' scenario where you start the same 11/12 and if someone comes in, they will find it hard to break into the team.
Unless it is someone that you could say will be a starter, which is when I would go into transfer market, but at this moment in time Jurgen Klopp won't be looking at that. He will be looking at the people who can destabilise the squad, rather than enhance it.
It's happened to teams before. If it goes wrong, people use that as a stick to hit you with, not adding when you are in a position of strength.
When asked recently whether Liverpool would be active in the January window, Klopp dampened down fans' expectations by saying he "would probably not" bring in any new defenders.
However, another injury in his back line could very well change Klopp's mind, while the Daily Record say Liverpool are now planning to sign a "readily available" holding midfielder who is also capable of deputising in defence.
The report also claims the Reds are willing to bring a player in on loan this month and are targeting a "cheap and reliable" solution to the club's current injury problems at the back.
But welcome business has already been done concerning current players. The Reds have tied down Andy Robertson to a long-term deal and Alexander-Arnold followed suit over the weekend.