Liverpool are reportedly battling rivals Manchester United for the signing of Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini ahead of a potential move to Anfield.
The Merseysiders ended up not signing a new central defender in the summer transfer window, much to the chagrin of many supporters.
It leaves Jurgen Klopp with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as his first-choice defensive duo, and Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as backup options, but three of those players are injury-prone, which makes it a risk.
The hope is that Liverpool look to bring in a centre-back once the January transfer window opens and it looks as though that could be the case.
According t0 90min, both the Reds and United are keen on the idea of signing highly-rated youngster Scalvini from Serie A side Atalanta, although it isn’t specified when he could come in:
“Liverpool and Manchester United both used the international window to watch defensive starlets Antonio Silva and Giorgio Scalvini, 90min understands. 19-year-old Silva has established himself as one of the world’s leading young central defenders over the past 18 months and is already on the radar of most of the continent’s top clubs.”
Our thoughts on Liverpool’s interest in Scalvini…
It is vital that Liverpool look at central defensive options in January, even though they are well-stocked when their four main options are fit. That seems very rare these days, however, outlining why a new face is required.
In Scalvini, the Reds could have a fantastic option to bring in, with the 19-year-old already making 58 appearances for Atalanta, despite still being a teenager.
He has won an average of 3.3 aerial duels per match in Serie A across three starts so far this season, highlighting his prowess in the air, but he has also completed 87.8% of his passes.
Scalvini could be viewed as a great long-term option for Liverpool, initially coming in as a squad player but being seen as a possible future replacement for Van Dijk and partner for Konate.
The lure of playing under Klopp could hopefully give the Reds the edge over United, should it come down to a choice out of the two clubs, and the idea of the six-cap Italy international arriving in January makes complete sense.
