'Ramos is on the wane' - Liverpool warned against signing Real Madrid star

Plenty of clubs will eye the Real Madrid skipper once his contract expires next summer, but Liverpool shouldn’t be one of them.

Steve Nicol believes Sergio Ramos is ‘on the wane a little’ and would only be a suitable option if things were to get ‘desperate’ for Liverpool.

Long-term injuries to star center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have left the Reds vulnerable in defense. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp is expected to reinforce his options in that problem area once the January transfer window opens.

RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly are the reported favorites on the manager’s shortlist.

RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano currently tops Liverpool's wish list, according to The Athletic ✍️ pic.twitter.com/nnOx7tzwjP

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But an alternative in Ramos may crop into Klopp’s thoughts as he urgently seeks a new center-back.

The 34-year-old is one of the most accomplished defenders in football history following glory-laden spells at the club and international level. His contract at Real Madrid, meanwhile, expires in June 2021 and no extension has been agreed upon.

“I don’t wish to make this sound bad but it depends how desperate they are,” ex-Liverpool defender Nicol told ESPN.

“Listen, if Virgil van Dijk has a setback and it’s going to take even longer, if Joe Gomez is struggling, you’d rather go for someone like Upamecano, at 21, who you’re going to have for a decade. It’s kind of a no-brainer.

“If you can’t get him, then you kind of start going down the list.

“Clearly, you want a younger player who is going to be there for some time. You really want to avoid stop-gaps, unless you’re in a real hole.

“So, listen, if they got Ramos it would only be for a couple of seasons. I think he’s on the wane a little.

“But it wouldn’t be the worst signing ever, he would do a job. But even he’s injured today, he did his hamstring.”