Liverpool are expected to play the full 2020/21 season without their star defender Virgil van Dijk after he underwent successful surgery on a knee injury at the end of October. With only Joe Gomez and Joël Matip as centre-backs in the squad with enough experience, Jürgen Klopp will be looking to sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window, but only if a player can be found for the right price.
With Van Dijk turning 29 back in July of 2020, The Reds are planning to acquire a central defender not only to replace the Dutchman for the remaining season but a player with a long-term future at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp will be allowed to suggest a young centre-back but the Liverpool is reluctant to spend more than £40m as Liverpool, just as all the other football clubs, are cash-strapped because of the repercussions of Covid-19 on professional football.
Ozan Kabak
According to German newspapers, Ozan Kabak has been put up for sale for £22m by Schalke 04 with different Premier League clubs showing interest. The central defender is believed to be highly regarded by Jürgen Klopp and could be an investment for the future. Liverpool would probably have made a move last summer if Covid-19 had not struck. Because of the injury of Van Dijk, the Reds might be looking to bring in the Turkey international in January. Though Liverpool will have to move fast as also AC Milan is expected to make a new bid to sign the 20-year-old defender.
Dayot Upamecano
If you ask Jamie Carragher, Dayot Upamecano is their favourite prospect to reinforce the defence. The 22-year-old has been linked with several Premier League teams last summer but ultimately signed a new three-year deal with RB Leipzig. The central defender is one of the most exciting young centre-backs and has been promised he will be allowed to leave Leipzig for the top-tier club next summer. Liverpool have placed the Leipzig player at the top of their shortlist but they will most likely have to wait till the end of the season to bring him in.
Duje Caleta-Car
In the summer of 2018, Olympique Marseille paid £17.10m to Red Bull Salzburg for defender Duje Caleta-Car and two-and-a-half years later he is ready to make the next step in his career. Playing with Marseille in the Champions League was one of the reasons Caleta-Car wanted to stay in France this season but with Olympique being last in their Champions League group, the central defender is ready for a move to the Premier League. The Croatia international is considered to be the ‘next Dejan Lovren’ and Liverpool are favourites to sign him in January or next summer.
Ben White
The centre-back of Brighton and Hove Albion is one of the candidates to replace Virgil Van Dijk after his injury but with an asking price of £50m, a move is unlikely to materialize during the January transfer window. The Englishman, who still has to play his first game for the Three Lions, was linked with a move to Liverpool last summer after his excellent loan spell at Leeds but he eventually signed a new contract with the Seagulls. Will any of the top-tier Premier League clubs cough up £50m during these difficult financial times? Not likely.
James Tarkowski
James Tarkowski has indicated that he has no plans to sign a new contract with Burnley and seems to be forcing a move away from the club. The 27 years old England international is out of contract in June 2022 and the Clarets will have to sell him next summer or before if they want to receive a decent transfer fee for their central defender. Though James Tarkowski is not Liverpool’s first choice, Chris Kirkland claimed Tarkowski would be a decent option for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
