Liverpool to strike deal for one of these two centre-backs IMMINENTLY

It was previously confirmed that Liverpool were not looking at signing a defender in January.

The club's failed attempt to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the summer was unlikely to result in a fresh approach for the Englishman until the following summer, when he becomes a free agent.

As such, it seemed as though Liverpool had identified their man and weren't up for looking at other targets. However, the change in circumstances regarding Giovanni Leoni's ACL tear, has meant that a rethink might be on the cards, opening up a whole range of solutions to consider in the winter market.

In a new report, two players in particular have been linked with a potential move to Merseyside.

'We need to keep an eye on...'

According to Graeme Bailey at TBR Football, there are five main options that Liverpool could look at, with two defenders standing out above the rest as the most feasible and impressive options available.

He said: "I think for January, we need to keep an eye on someone like [Joel] Ordonez - the Ecaudorian lad from Brugge, a young but huge talent, or maybe Taras Mykhavko from Kiev - Liverpool are working on a number of options."

Both players are below the age of 22, so they would most certainly fit the age profile that Liverpool are trying to abide by, and the pair are regular starters for their teams, so they also have experience under their belt to fall back on in times of adversity. Generally speaking, they're ideal targets.

If Liverpool were to consider bringing someone in during the January transfer window, they would need to fit within the structure that Richard Hughes' recruitment team is building. Future-proofing the team, while having impactful players that are ready to go straight in and deliver is an important mix.

Furthermore, the report notes Nico Schlotterbeck, Dayot Upamecano and Castello Lukeba as viable options to bolster Arne Slot's defence, although they're seen as unlikely to move until the summer.

With the context of Leoni's injury, Ibrahima Konate's looming contract situation and Virgil Van Dijk's age, it's paramount that everything is properly considered, to ensure we have a smooth transition.

Players with profiles like Ordonez and Mykhavko's are unlikely to de-rail any plans, although a lot will need to be considered before any moves are sanctioned. It might be that using one of the academy products is the club's preferred method to dealing with the current mini-crisis in the defence.

All options will be explored. The club appears to be covering all bases and not ruling anything out.

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