A select round-up of the latest transfer news relating to Liverpool…
With the January transfer window drawing ever closer, Liverpool are being linked with a number of players, many of which are geared towards boosting the Reds defence.
Jurgen Klopp’s side collapsed at Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, as they blew 2-0 and 3-1 leads at the Vitality Stadium in a major dent to their Premier League title hopes.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Given that Joel Matip was ruled out through injury, Liverpool boss Klopp was forced to use Lucas Leiva alongside Dejan Lovren at Bournemouth, and it’s clear that Liverpool still need some improvement in defence, having conceded more goals than any other team in the top eight of the Premier League table.
With that in mind, Liverpool are being linked with a number of defenders, and one major link emerging over the last 24 hours is to Roma centre back Antonio Rudiger.
Antonio Rudiger
Rudiger, 23, came up through the ranks with Klopp’s former club Stuttgart, and after an impressive loan spell at Roma last season, he penned a permanent deal at the Stadio Olimpico this past summer.
The German international – who has 11 caps for his country – has just come back from a serious knee injury, but his impressive displays appear to be attracting interest.
The Daily Mail report that Roma may have to sell Rudiger to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, and Liverpool are in a four-team race to sign the athletic defender, alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk celebrates
Another defender linked with a move to Anfield is Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, as De Telegraaf claimed earlier this week that the Reds have been watching the Dutchman for two months ahead of a possible January move.
Van Dijk, 25, has been one of the top defenders in the Premier League this season, but the Daily Mail report that Liverpool won’t in fact be making a move for him in January, despite an alleged £25m release clause in his contract.
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