Liverpool

Liverpool: David Ornstein rules out Liverpool making a move for Antonio Rudiger

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Image for Liverpool: David Ornstein rules out Liverpool making a move for Antonio Rudiger

Speaking on a recent episode of the Ask Ornstein YouTube show, David Ornstein discussed whether or not he felt Liverpool could make a move for Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger in the January transfer window.

Following injuries to two of Liverpool’s senior centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, Jurgen Klopp has been left with only Joel Matip as an experienced option in the centre of defence.

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As a result of these injuries, much has been discussed as to who the club could potentially make a move for in the January transfer window in order to bolster their options in the position.

However, in response to a question asking whether or not he believed Klopp could be interested in Chelsea’s Rudiger, Ornstein ruled out any potential move for the £27 million-rated 27-year-old by the Reds.

He said: “Well, I must say, this is not one I’ve heard anything about. So, the short answer I’m inclined to give is no. I don’t think Rudiger wants out at Chelsea, I just think he wants to play – ideally for Chelsea and if not, elsewhere – especially with Euro 2021 fast approaching.

“We saw what happened in the summer, [after] falling out of favour with Frank Lampard, it seemed inevitable that he would be leaving Stamford Bridge. Liverpool, to my knowledge, were not in the frame. Nothing materialised.

“And, despite being somewhat reintegrated into the first-team setup, game time has still been in short supply and you suspect, going into and during the January window, his future will again be the subject of intense speculation. Chelsea won’t want to do business with a rival, particularly Liverpool.”

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TIF Thoughts on David Ornstein’s comments regarding Antonio Rudiger…

From Ornstein’s comments, it would appear that the journalist is of the belief that Liverpool were not interested in Rudiger in the previous window, and that their position does not look to have changed heading into the January market.

However, with only Sepp van den Berg, who has four senior Liverpool appearances to his name, and Nathaniel Phillips, who has just two under his belt, aside from Matip as out-and-out centre-backs in Liverpool’s first-team squad, in our opinion, if the Reds wish to give themselves the best shot at defending their Premier League crown, they should almost certainly consider dipping into the January market to purchase a more experienced defender to partner Matip.

However, according to Ornstein, should the club indeed make a move for a centre-back in January, it does not look likely to be Rudiger.

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Football Writer for Snack Media