According to Sky Sports transfer expert Dharmesh Sheth, Jurgen Klopp could be tempted to snap up the services of a centre-back during the January transfer window due to the pressure of the Premier League title race and extended runs in multiple cup competitions.
Liverpool has retained their spot at the top of the Premier League table thanks to West Ham United’s victory over Arsenal at the Emirates, and there is no doubt Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with the positive impact and transformation the squad has had since last season.
The summer was seen as a transition period for the Reds with several experienced and trusted players moving on from Merseyside, leading to the arrival of a number of fresh faces including Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister.
Nobody could’ve predicted just how quickly Liverpool have got back on track and, at time of writing, have now found themselves two points clear at the top of the table just a few days before the transfer window opens again on January 1st.
It is unconfirmed as to whether Liverpool will dip into the market to add reinforcements to crucial positions over the second half of the season, however, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that Klopp is keen on bringing in another centre-back in early 2024.
Sheth told GIVEMESPORT:
“There are so many games Liverpool have got because they’re still in the Europa League. Of course, they’re into the last 16 of that. They’re in the midst of a title race as we speak now, before Arsenal play West Ham United, they’re top of the league, having beaten Burnley.
“They are into the semi-finals of the League Cup and there’s an FA Cup campaign coming up as well. It looks really quiet for a lot of clubs, doesn’t it because you’ve got these staggered winter breaks that they’ve given these clubs where they get a couple of weeks off in there.
“Whereas Liverpool, I looked at their fixtures, and it looks like there’s no change at all, because they’ve got two semi finals in the Carabao Cup, they’ve got a couple of Premier League games, and they’ve got an FA Cup tie as well.”
“So maybe, Jurgen Klopp will just say, just have a look here, we’ve got an opportunity maybe to do something really special this season. let’s just bulk up that squad. So maybe a centre back, could be the priority if they’re to go into the market in January.”
Will Liverpool sign a centre-back?
There is no doubt there is an opportunity to bolster the defensive depth in the squad, especially after Joel Matip’s unfortunate ACL injury, however, it will depend on the intentions of those transfer targets when it comes to regular game time.
Indeed, there will always be chances to prove yourself and earn a spot in the Liverpool starting eleven, however, young rising star Jarell Quansah is proving to be one to watch for the future heir of Virgil van Dijk, while Joe Gomez has come back into some fantastic form since being called upon to cover a number of roles in the last few months.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of central defenders over the last 12 months including Goncalo Inacio, Levi Colwill, Micky van de Ven, Marc Guehi and Jarrad Branthwaite to name a few, but as of yet the Reds have not lodged a bid for any defenders.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool do sign a centre-back in the new year, but it definitely won’t be considered the most pressing concern to tackle as a defensive midfielder should certainly be higher on the agenda in January.
