Richard Hughes ready to pay £47m for new Mats Hummels

Liverpool’s needs at centre-back are growing.

The latest mishap to befall Andoni Iraola’s side is an injury to Joe Gomez. The 29-year-old went down against Sunderland in a preseason friendly over the weekend - reducing the pool of available defenders by one.

The Reds were already without Virgil van Dijk on tour owing to an extended post-FIFA World Cup break. And other than those two the new Liverpool head coach is dealing with an array of inexperienced options.

Liverpool left short of centre-back options

Jeremy Jacquet is expected to come in for a debut sometime on the US tour following his recovery from shoulder surgery.

Giovanni Leoni remains some way off a full recovery after tearing his ACL last year.

It meant Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe forming a makeshift partnership for the game against Sunderland.

Nonetheless the Merseysiders won’t have Ndukwe available for the Premier League season ahead owing to a work permit issue - painting a complicated picture at the back.

Liverpool to move for Finn Jeltsch

Now comes a report in Fussball Daten that Liverpool are set to fight it out with Bayern Munich and Arsenal to sign a player described in Germany as “the new Mats Hummels”.

Finn Jeltsch, 20, signed for VfB Stuttgart in February 2025 - going on to win the German cup in his first season at the club.

The defender - acquired from FC Nurnburg - has since blossomed into one of the best young performers in his position in the Bundesliga.

“With consistent performances and leadership qualities in defense, Finn Jeltsch of VfB Stuttgart has quickly become one of the most sought-after center-backs of the summer,” the report reads.

Arsenal and Bayern also want £47m-rated Jeltsch

“Following strong showings in the UEFA Europa League and the Bundesliga, Premier League powerhouses Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as Bayern Munich – who are looking to secure their dominance in the league – are all vying for the 20-year-old defender.”

Stuttgart have got the Germany under-21 international contract until 2030 - meaning they are in total control over his next move. Nonetheless it’s believed that Liverpool could strike a transfer breakthrough around the £43m to £47m mark.

“Although Jeltsch's market value is currently estimated at around €35 ​​million, the VfB bosses' pain threshold for negotiations is only €50 to €55 million,” the report reads.

“The Reds want to rejuvenate their defense. Yeltsch's athleticism, his composure under pressure, and his playmaking abilities are a perfect fit for the intense pace of the Premier League.”