Lawrenson says Liverpool should re-sign 27-year-old, not reported £50m target

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Mark Lawrenson is ‘not surprised’ to see Liverpool linked with Ben White but believes Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Conor Coady is the ideal Virgil van Dijk replacement, speaking to the Argus.

The Reds might have conceded just one goal in two games since their talismanic Dutchman was consigned to the sidelines but the phrase ‘papering over the cracks’ comes to mind.

If Ajax had shown the kind of clinical touch they betrayed during a record-breaking 13-0 thumping of VVV Venlo in Wednesday’s Champions League clash, Liverpool would not have been celebrating a 1-0 triumph in Amsterdam.

Both Joe Gomez and Fabinho struggled with the strength and leap of Oli McBurnie too during this weekend’s rather fortuitous victory over struggling Sheffield United.

And while Liverpool have been linked with a £50 million January bid for Brighton’s Ben White (Mail), Anfield legend Lawrenson feels another Premier League defender could be on his way to Merseyside.

“I’ve been very impressed (with White),” says the five-time First Division champion.

“He is good on the ball, obviously, and he looks like he has got all the tools and you’d have thought he will only improve. It is not surprising he has been mentioned with the likes of Liverpool looking at him.”

Lawrenson, however, feels Coady’s experience makes him the England international the better option if Jurgen Klopp does indeed want to bring in a new face.

“If Liverpool are going to pay big money for somebody in January, they want absolutely ready-made. Conor Coady has had loads of shouts and he is a very good organiser who has played lots of games in the Premier League.

“Maybe it might be a bit early for Ben. Would you spend that money thinking he might be ready in 18 months? I’m not sure.”

Coady, of course, has the added advantage of having red blood flowing through his veins – metaphorically speaking, of course.

The St Helens-born defender started his career at Liverpool and even captained the club at U21 level before leaving for Huddersfield Town in 2014.