Speaking recently on the Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano discussed Liverpool’s January transfer window plans.
Following long-term injuries to defensive pair Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, Jurgen Klopp has been left with only Joel Matip as an experienced centre-back in his first-team squad.
As a result, much has been discussed as to whether the club will make a move for a defender in the January transfer window in order to provide Klopp with more depth in the position in the absence of Van Dijk and Gomez.
However, speaking on a recent episode of the Here We Go podcast, Romano stated his belief that there is a possibility Liverpool will not sign a defender in January, as the club’s recruitment structure means they will only make a move for a player who is a number one target.
He said: “I saw a lot of reports saying that Liverpool are not convinced [about signing] a centre-back this winter, and this is a possibility. It’s true because Liverpool will go just for [their] first targets.
“They [only] want important players or they [will] stay with the team they have, [even] if they have big problems with injuries this season. Obviously, they hope to have some players back soon, but [at] this moment, they have no rush.
“So, we were expecting Liverpool immediately, on the first of January, to sign a centre-back, [but] they are so quiet. They are convinced that if there is a great opportunity, they are moving on the players, if not [they will think], ‘OK, we [will wait until] next summer’.
“So, their plans are for next summer, [at] this moment, they are just looking at the window [for] possible opportunities, but nothing special.”
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TIF Thoughts on Fabrizio Romano’s comments regarding Liverpool’s January transfer plans…
From Romano’s comments, it would appear that the journalist is of the belief that, unless Liverpool feel as if they can land one of their primary targets in the transfer window, they will not be signing any players in January, despite their defensive injury crisis.
And, considering that the team have conceded just three goals in the Premier League since the Everton game in which Van Dijk picked up his injury, as well as keeping a clean sheet in the Leicester City game when both Gomez and Van Dijk were unavailable, we have to say, it would appear that Liverpool have been getting on just fine without their injured centre-backs so far.
However, it may be a risk to purely rely on their existing players given the raft of injuries they have already suffered so far this season, so it remains to be seen whether the Reds’ apparent strategy to only delve into the market for a top target will pay off.