Steve Nicol has told former club Liverpool to go and sign Dayot Upamecano in January.
Less than a month after Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the rest of the Reds’ season, Joe Gomez’s campaign now hangs in the balance.
The 23-year-old picked up a knee injury during England training this week and Liverpool revealed on Thursday that the player has already undergone surgery, but no timescale has been offered on his return.
You could argue that Van Dijk and Gomez are Jurgen Klopp’s best centre-backs and their absence leaves the German boss with an injury-prone Joel Matip and central midfielder Fabinho – also injured right now – as his best replacements from now until January.
The Premier League champions badly need reinforcements.
And club legend Nicol has told ESPN FC on YouTube that Klopp must get the RB Leipzig powerhouse this winter.
He said: “Liverpool absolutely have to go out and spend a lot of money. Joe Gomez at 23 years of age has already had two major surgeries. The chances of it happening again, they rise. This forces them into it and they should go and get Upamecano.”
The 22-year-old has a £36 million release clause that becomes active in 2021 [Bild] and Nicol is right, Liverpool need to get him – or at least somebody with a high profile.
They’re the reigning Premier League champions and you could argue that the defence of their title hinges on whether Klopp signs a central defender.
He needed one before the Gomez injury. Now it’s a matter of huge importance.
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