Liverpool ‘put off by Inter Milan’s £54m price tag on defender Milan Skriniar’ as Jurgen Klopp weighs up January move for a centre-back, with injury crisis deepening following Joel Matip’s adductor issue
- Liverpool’s defence has been left decimated by injuries this season
- First choice stars Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all ruled out
- Jurgen Klopp has been forced to play midfielder Fabinho in his back four
- But the Reds will not turn to Milan Skriniar as a short term fix to the problem
Liverpool have opted against a January move for defender Milan Skriniar after being put off by Inter Milan’s fee for the defender.
The Reds are facing a defensive crisis heading into the new year, with first-choice centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez ruled out long term.
Third choice Joel Matip though is also now out injured with an adductor problem and is not expected to return for three few weeks after limping off in Sunday’s draw with West Bromwich Albion.
Liverpool will opt against a £54million move for Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar
Jurgen Klopp’s defence for now rests upon midfielder Fabinho, who has competently acted as cover at the back, along with inexperienced youngsters Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips.
However, according to Calciomercato, the Reds’will not be tempted by the quick fix of landing Skriniar, with the £54million demanded by Inter for the Croatia international deemed not worthy of what seems a short term fix.
Fabinho and Phillips kept a clean sheet as a defensive pairing at Newcastle on Wednesday but Liverpool are still looking at bolstering a backline that has been left decimated by injuries this term.
Joel Matip’s injury against West Brom means Liverpool have no fit experienced centre-backs
Jurgen Klopp is looking at the market to at least find a short term replacement at Anfield
The Italian report claims Schalke’s Ozak Kabak is of interest while Ajax centre-half Per Schuurs has been tracked by Reds scouts for a few months.
Former Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay has been available as a free agent since the summer but Liverpool have opted against signing the 34-year-old.
Potential buys that could also provide long term options include Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly as well as RB Leipzig’s star man Dayot Upamecano.
However the duo are recognised as two of Europe’s leading centre-backs and would command a hefty fee to purchase especially during the January transfer window.