Arne Slot makes mind up over January deal for defender

Liverpool are currently considering a January transfer move for a defender.

A lot of recruitment took place last summer to replenish the squad, however, the updates since then have meant that the club might need to re-evaluate their plans in order to fix some remaining issues.

One potential signing could be a new centre-back, since Giovanni Leoni is confirmed to be out for most, if not all, of the season with an ACL tear, so we're currently down to three central defenders.

Marc Guehi is earmarked for a free transfer when the summer comes back around, but surviving until then with a lack of defensive depth feels risky. Liverpool are looking to compete on all fronts in this campaign, and without getting someone in, you feel as though it's going to be an uphill battle.

However, there are other defensive moves going the other way, which need to be considered, since the Reds have players of their own who are currently set to leave without securing a transfer fee.

Robertson will see the campaign through

According to Football Insider, a January move for Andy Robertson is not on the cards, meaning he is expected to see out the remainder of the campaign before either leaving as a free agent or signing a new deal to commit him to the club for an extra year or two. Put simply, he's not going anywhere yet.

Pete O'Rourke spoke on the Inside track podcast and said: "I think probably later in the season, things will become more clear on what's going to happen with Andy Robertson's future.

"There's no chance of [him] moving [in] January, Liverpool won't allow that to happen, [they] won't think they'll then [not] need Andy Robertson's around. They're pretty short of options at the back anyway. Look, Andy Robertson might even have to fit in at centre-back on occasion this season, with Liverpool's injury concerns in that area of the team.

"Although he's maybe not a guaranteed starter these days, he still has a role to play for Arne Slot's team. His experience will be invaluable for Liverpool between not and the end of the season, and he is vice captain there as well, so, that shows how much Arne Slot rates him as well."

In spite of having been replaced at left-back by new signing Milos Kerkez this season, Robertson has been called upon at times by Slot, as the Hungarian has struggled to perform to the levels he showed for Bournemouth last season - playing in a different role and still adapting to his new teammates.

The Scot's experience and composure has been key in games where the intensity is overwhelming.

After all, Kerkez is still only 21 years old, so can't expect him to be flawless every game. Maturity is something you can only develop over time and so having someone like the Reds' vice-captain in the squad to oversee the transition at left-back is paramount to helping the side to deliver success.

Next summer, however, Kostas Tsimikas will be back from his loan spell at Roma, and he will take over from Robertson in that role. Of course, everything can change between now and then, but it's understandable that Slot is unwilling to let his veteran full-back leave quite yet.

The decision will be a blow to teams such as Atletico Madrid, who were reportedly interested in signing him last summer, although the opportunity to get him on a free transfer won't be sniffed at.

Although there is no guarantee that Robertson leaves this summer either, if the club feel as though it would be unwise to let him go. In that sense, everything remains in a state of flux, but one thing at least is now certain, we can relax throughout the January transfer window. He's going nowhere.

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