Liverpool target jets off as club confirms move

One Liverpool target is on the move and has jetted off from his country as confirmed by his club.

There's not a lot of time left in the January transfer window now. Richard Hughes has just days left until the window shuts close. Otherwise, he will only be able to strengthen in the summer.

Liverpool's needs in the market are pressing.

Right now Joe Gomez is injured, Ibrahima Konate is going through a very tough bereavement and Giovanni Leoni is out for the rest of the season.

It means Liverpool's only currently available centre-back is Virgil van Dijk.

Alongside him depending on the situation, Arne Slot may be forced to play either Wellity Lucky or Wataru Endo against Qarabag. Knowing Slot he will probably go with the latter option.

Surely, Liverpool cannot leave him this short of options heading into the rest of the season. The club still has important games to play in the Champions League and the FA Cup.

There's a Champions League place at stake in the Premier League as well. Unless, the club's form turns around, securing a place in next year's competition looks unlikely.

Liverpool need reinforcements and one player who has been on the club's radar is Rion Ichihara. The 20-year-old Japanese centre-back was spotted by scouts at the U20 World Cup and he is someone Liverpool admire according to this report.

Ichihara is a centre-back who is strong in the air and who is very composed on the ball. He's someone who would fit Liverpool's style of play and give an extra depth at the back for the Reds.

Recently, he just captained Japan to the U23 Asian Cup, which they won at the weekend.

Now Ichihara's club RB Ardija has confirmed in a statement that the young centre-back has travelled abroad and that he will be transferring to a mystery overseas club.

Ardija do not reveal who this club will be but merely confirm that Ichihara is on the move abroad.

They say that they will reveal Ichihara's future club in due course.

Given Liverpool's admiration of the player and the fact that the Reds need a centre-back, this is certainly a move to keep an eye on.

Ichihara is regarded as one of the most talented centre-backs in Japan. He is part of the Red Bull group as well, who Jurgen Klopp works for and who have a strong relationship with Liverpool.

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