Five defenders Liverpool could sign in January transfer window after Gomez blow

Liverpool are reeling after Joe Gomez suffered a serious knee injury in training while on England duty.

With Virgil van Dijk a long-term absentee, manager Jurgen Klopp resorted to using defensive midfielder Fabinho at the back but the Brazilian picked up a hamstring injury which he is recovering from.

Joel Matip is injury-prone but back to fitness again having played in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday while youngsters Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have deputised in recent games.

Gomez joining the injury list is a major blow to Klopp, particularly if, as appears likely with confirmation that it’s a non-contact injury, he is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

If scans confirm that to be the case, Klopp abd Liverpool will have to give major consideration to signing a new defender in January.

With that being said, Mirror Football has taken a look at five defenders who could be on the Reds wishlist.

Dayot Upamecano

The French defender is the name on the lips of sporting directors across Europe due to his performances for RB Leipzig.

It is highly likely this will be his final year at the German club with a summer 2021 release clause allowing him to depart for around £40million.

If Liverpool want him in January they could be forced to pay a little extra – as they did when agreeing terms to sign Naby Keita from RBL ahead of rival clubs previously.

Doing so could be a wise move, particularly with the France international tipped to be one f the world’s best centre-backs in the coming years.

Ozan Kabak

Schalke are struggling on the field and off it, with their finances a mess. Luckily for them, Kabak is one of few assets on their books.

The Turkey international is just 20 but has plenty of first-team experience under him and has already been on Liverpool’s radar.

He’s a good size, commanding in the air but has plenty of room for improvement.

Ben White

There are high hopes of White at Brighton and they were delighted to persuade him to sign a new long term deal recently – having fended off interest from Leeds United, where he starred on loan last term.

But it hasn’t stopped the interest in him and, as Mirror Sport’s David Maddock revealed on August 4,Liverpool have been monitoring White’s progress.

However, he would cost well in advance of £30million should they make a move. Are they willing to commit such a figure?

David Alaba

Liverpool’s recruitment team were clever in their capture of Thiago in the summer from Bayern Munich.

And it would be another major coup if they were able to take Alaba away in January.

Bayern won’t meet the Austrian’s contract demands and with a standoff between both parties, the versatile defender is set to leave next summer for free.

A good bid in January from Liverpool might be too hard to resist for Bayern. But then, they will face paying huge wages which, potentially, could rock the boat at Anfield.

Conor Coady

Following Coady’s impressive display against Leeds last month, Jamie Carragher joked on Sky Sports that Liverpool wanted to sign the Wolves captain as cover for Van Dijk.

Coady took it in his stride and brushed it off but the defender was a product of the Reds academy.

He left in 2014 to get first-team football and has developed massively, even breaking into the England squad.

Despite signing a new five-year contract, the chance of a homecoming might be too much to resist, although Wolves would no doubt ask a good price for their defensive leader.

Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip