Richard Hughes lines up defender transfer for Liverpool

Richard Hughes is lining up a defender transfer for Liverpool.

The club's sporting director will have been bitterly disappointed after missing out on Marc Guehi during the final hours of the window.

He will have been even more downcast when Giovanni Leoni pulled up after his brilliant debut for Liverpool and suffered an ACL injury that has likely ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Those two events one after another has made Liverpool's options very thin in the centre-back department. Hughes will be glad he kept Joe Gomez around and didn't allow him to join AC Milan on the final day of the window.

It means Liverpool are okay for now. Long-term though the reality is that Hughes needs to revamp the department.

Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger. Joe Gomez looks like he's in the final stages of his Liverpool career. Then there's the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate's future, who has just one year left on his contract.

In that situation it's understandable that Liverpool are looking at the market. In January and next summer they will likely have to sign not just one but two centre-backs in order to fortify Arne Slot's options.

One of those could still be Guehi, who could join the club next summer on a free transfer as he won't be signing an extension with Crystal Palace.

Another defender who is on the club's radar is Nico Schlotterbeck, who is considering his future at Borussia Dortmund and whose style of play would be very well-suited to the way Slot wants to build-out from the back.

But the aforementioned duo are not the only ones on the club's shortlist. DaveOCKOP has reported that Liverpool have added another name under consideration and could line up a move for him.

That name is Ousmane Diomande, who is still only 21-years-old but already has over 100 appearances for Sporting CP, which is an impressive feat for a centre-back.

According to the report, Liverpool are long-term admirers of the Ivorian international but right now they have a preference for Schlotterbeck and Guehi.

However, if one of those moves falls through, the Reds could look to accelerate a move for Diomande.

In terms of his profile, he's a strong centre-back who reads the game really well and wins a lot of duels both on the ground and in the air.

At the same time, Diomande is comfortable on the ball and very much suited to the kind of possession-based football Slot likes to play.

As an alternative to Guehi or Schlotterbeck, this could be a smart move all in all for Liverpool. He's definitely a name to keep a close eye on.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool have a NEW right-back and he's the best in the world

👉🏻 Marc Guehi is COMING: Liverpool will agree deal to sign England star

👉🏻 Liverpool legend's son is now an elite centre-back