‘Sensational’: Former Liverpool ace thinks Klopp should sign 29-year-old in January

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Liverpool may be tempted to splash out on Napoli superstar Kalidou Koulibaly following Virgil van Dijk’s injury blow, former Reds midfielder Don Hutchison has told ESPN FC on YouTube.

With the finest centre-half in world football consigned to a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament tear, could the Premier League champions turn their attention to the closest challenger for Van Dijk’s throne?

Valued at £90 million and due to turn 30 years of age within the next 12 months, Koulibaly is far from a typical Liverpool signing.

But needs must and, if Jurgen Klopp’s side are to retain their Premier League title, they may have little choice but to consider breaking their transfer record for the fourth time since 2017.

“You take Virgil van Dijk out of this Liverpool side – arguably one of the best centre-halves in Europe, the best by a country mile in the Premier League – it’s going to dent the optimism of Liverpool fans believing they can hold on to the title,” says Hutchison, who was at Anfield from 1990 to 1994.

“If they can try to get through to January, with the window not too far away, it might push Jurgen Klopp, the staff and the guys above him to maybe go for a Koulibaly or one of those stellar signings to try to sure up that problem.

“Then, when Virgil van Dijk does come back, you could have a sensational pairing.

“I just think if you take him out of the side and Alisson is missing for the next couple of weeks or months, that’s a difficult ask to go unbeaten and rack up the wins.”

Liverpool have conceded nine times in their last two games and, just to add to the growing sense of dread enveloping the red half of Merseyside, Joe Gomez is the only fully fit senior centre-half in Klopp’s squad heading into tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Ajax.

Calciomercato does suggest Liverpool may be tempted to try to convince Napoli to part with Koulibaly for a more reasonable fee.

Although Dayot Upamecano, eight years his junior and with a £36 million release clause due to come into effect next year, may be a more realistic option (BILD).