Arne Slot has declared a January centre-back signing is the very last thing on his thoughts, although that mightn’t be the case for sporting director Richard Hughes.
Liverpool had been anticipated so as to add two centre-backs through the summer season switch window, just for Marc Guehi’s signing to break down on the final hour on deadline day.
With the England worldwide a free agent in the summertime, it stays to be seen if Liverpool return with a bid in January to deal with their scarcity within the place following Giovanni Leoni‘s damage.
Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are the one specialist choices, whereas Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson can fill the void, if wanted.
With Liverpool’s want no secret, Slot couldn’t keep away from a query on how doubtless the membership are to herald a centre-back in January throughout his press convention, whether or not it’s Guehi or another person.
Arne Slot on prospect of signing a centre-back in January
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“This was one of many questions I didn’t anticipate, speaking about signings within the winter,” Slot began.
“I feel there are such a lot of video games to be performed earlier than that, and the place we’re in, it’s the very last thing that’s on my thoughts, possibly not for Richard [Hughes].
“However it’s the very last thing on my thoughts, it’s not a subject in any respect for me in the meanwhile.
“We’ve, on this second of time, three centre-backs, with Joe Gomez included in fact.
“Possibly Ryan [Gravenberch] and Watta (Endo) can play in that place, so possibly you aren’t conscious of it, however we now have different positions in the meanwhile that are a bit extra of a problem.”
Liverpool want additional depth at centre-back with six months of the season nonetheless to play, however as Slot alluded to, it isn’t the one place in want of consideration.
After saying Conor Bradley returned from the worldwide break with a muscle damage that can preserve him out of the following seven video games, he’s and not using a specialist right-back.
With Jeremie Frimpong nonetheless sidelined with a hamstring damage, Slot conceded that gamers will “need to play in positions they often don’t” over the following three weeks, at the very least.
Gomez, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai had been all name-checked by the pinnacle coach as choices shifting ahead, however Calvin Ramsay might also come into consideration.
Slot retains Konate contract speak to a minimal
Konate was slightly vocal through the break over his contract state of affairs at Liverpool, which at present sees him head into the summer season as a free agent.
The Frenchman has but to agree a brand new deal and admitted through the worldwide break that perceptions of his state of affairs had been “sophisticated” by the hearsay mill.
Requested if there have been any developments on the No. 5’s future, Slot provided his common bullish reply.
He mentioned: “I haven’t heard that (Konate’s contract feedback), however yeah, my reply would most likely be the one you anticipate.
“Do I’ve to say it, or do you say it?”
