Recent injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho has forced Jurgen Klopp to look for defensive cover for Liverpool before the transfer window ends.
Jurgen Klopp affirmed that Liverpool will look for a center-back before the transfer window ends on Monday. The Reds are expected to react to the defensive crisis that has been going on since last year. In addition, Fabinho missed the game against Tottenham on Thursday due to a muscle injury. Whereas Joel Matip sustained an ankle ligament problem, meaning all the first-choice defenders are unavailable for Klopp.
Now, the Brazilian will miss Sunday’s important clash against West Ham away from home. And Matip will potentially miss a few weeks of action. However, despite all these issues, the Liverpool head coach indicated that the club will do its best to solve the drought of defenders.
Desperate needs.
“Last night after the game I was pretty emotional just because at half-time the boys [are] sitting there,” he said. “Now, meanwhile, there are still glimpses of hope that it’s not serious. No, we don’t have the final result because the scan didn’t happen yet. So we [will] know more in three or four hours hopefully. Fabinho [has] no chance for the weekend.”
“I don’t know, but we will try,” he said. “We always try. It would be funny if you thought Liverpool were fine with the situation, that we don’t care or don’t try. We try, but as you know, there’s nothing to say until something happens. We will see. The situation yesterday didn’t make it easier but still we are trying to do the right things. If it’s possible then we will do it. If not, then not.”
“My thoughts didn’t change, my words might have!” he said. “Same situation as before. We work. When we don’t sleep, we work. We will see. Everything is long-term. OK, apart from if we bring a [loan] player for the next six months or whatever. I think I had one half-year contract, Steven Caulker [in 2016], yes? It’s about a solution, and that’s what we are working on.”
Klopp was asked about the difficulty in finding the right player in a limited time. He said: “I’m not sure there’s an £80 million center-back available in the moment. I know that this player, or this caliber, I’m not sure teams would want to sell them now. Of course, we need to find the right player. That’s clear. And it needs to suit our financial situation. That’s clear as well.”