Sport
5 Liverpool centre-back transfer targets in January
The sight of Joel Matip hobbling off against West Brom on Boxing Day was not a welcome one for Jurgen Klopp or anyone associated with Liverpool. The Reds’ injury troubles this season have been well documented. With Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk sidelined for the majority of the 2020/21 campaign, they were already light on options at the back, and Jurgen Klopp must now consider centre-back transfer targets for Liverpool in January.
Matip’s injury leaves Liverpool without a single senior central defender. Fabinho is effective as a fill-in, but the Brazilian is a midfielder by trade. Rhys Williams has made the step up to the first team, but he is still a youth player fast-tracked into the lineup ahead of schedule. The same goes for Nat Phillips.
Liverpool’s status as English champions could be on the line. Following consecutive draws against relegation-threatened West Brom and Newcastle, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all within touching distance of top spot in the Premier League table.
January offers Liverpool a chance to enter the market for a new centre-back. While it’s notoriously difficult to find value in the mid-season transfer window, the Reds have a number of options in front of them. Here are five centre-back transfer targets that could ease the injury woes of Liverpool this season. Will they end up with one of the deals of the 2021 January transfer window?
5 centre-back transfer targets for Liverpool
David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich’s decision to withdraw their offer of a new contract to David Alaba opened up a number of potential destinations for the Austrian international. While Alaba made his name as a left back, last season saw Hansi Flick shift him into a central role where he became a key figure for the Bavarians as they won the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Champions League.
Alaba is out of contract at the end of the season and so it’s possible Liverpool would be able to strike a deal with Bayern Munich for the transfer of the 28-year-old in January. The Austrian would be a top tier addition. Plus, there’s good reason to believe he would make a good partner for van Dijk when he returns. According to the latest Liverpool transfer news, The Reds have a strong interest in signing Alaba.
Ezequiel Garay (free agent)
If Liverpool are in the market only for a short term solution to their injury troubles, Ezequiel Garay might be their best option. The 34-year-old is currently a free agent after being released by Valencia earlier this year and so the Premier League champions wouldn’t have to pay a transfer fee for the Argentine.
Garay is experienced at the top level of the game having played for Real Madrid, Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg and Valencia over the course of his career. Liverpool, however, would need to be sure of his fitness level as the veteran hasn’t played since February when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury. Perhaps not the most inspiring of centre-back transfer targets for Liverpool but he could prove a useful short term solution.
Ozan Kabak (Schalke)
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Ozan Kabak since the summer when it was reported the Anfield club had opened talks for the signing of the Turkish international. Klopp is believed to be a fan of the player and so it’s entirely possible Liverpool could return for one of their long term targets in January.
Kabak is an exciting prospect who will likely improve and develop further as he matures. Schalke’s current financial peril could be to Liverpool’s advantage in any negotiations, meaning they could accept a knockdown price for one of their prize assets. It’s possible a deal could be struck in January.
Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)
Widely rated as one of the best young defenders in Europe, Dayot Upamecano wouldn’t come cheap. The 22-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs including City and United, with Bayern Munich reportedly identifying the RB Leipzig centre back as the long-term successor to Jerome Boateng.
Upamecano reportedly has a release clause of €42 million that will be active from next summer, but Liverpool need a new central defender now. The Frenchman would be much more than just a short term solution and so the outlay it would take to lure him from RB Leipzig in January could be well worth it. A centre back pairing of Upamecano and van Dijk would be the strongest in the game and he surely ranks at the top of the possible Liverpool centre-back transfer targets this winter.
Aissa Mandi (Real Betis)
According to widespread reports, Liverpool were close to signing Aissa Mandi in the summer transfer window. The Algerian was identified as a replacement for Dejan Lovren, but no deal was struck and Mandi remained at Real Betis where he has continued to impress for the Spanish club this season.
The 29-year-old is technically adept on the ball, which is something Klopp looks for in his central defenders, and is a strong physical presence at the back. Mandi would be little more than a squad option, but that’s what the Premier League champions need at this moment in time.
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