LOAN MOVE? Liverpool handed a chance to apply a sticking plaster to their defensive crisis

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists signing a centre-back in January is “just not likely” (Adam Davy/PA)

January 15 2021 11:22 AM

Liverpool could be offered a chance to solve some of their defensive woes after the club were made aware of the availability of Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao.

The 22-year-old Brazil defender is struggling to get into Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid side and there are suggestions that the Spanish giants would be open to a deal that would allow him to go out on loan for the rest of this season.

Klopp has stated that he would be keen to sign a defender this month, with injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez likely to rule them out for the rest of this season, but the club's owners seem reluctant to finance a permanent transfer amid the ongoing global pandemic.

Liverpool are expected to lose in excess of £100m in revenue due to the Covid-19 crisis and even though Klopp should be backed with a defensive signing this month, he admits it is unlikely to happen.

"I can't say definitely we won't bring someone in, it's just not likely because of the situation in the world," Klopp said last week.

"It's a tough one for all people and football clubs. Some clubs don't have financial problems but this club - these owners - very responsible.

"I don't know if something will happen or not. It would be a short-term solution and that is not right, it doesn't help really. So we deal like we have so far. It's not the best moment for the whole planet so why would it be for a football club?"

If Liverpool are not going to back Jurgen Klopp to sign a defender this month, which seems likely now, a loan move for Real Madridâs Eder Militao is a sensible/affordable option. An open goal that should not be ignored #LFC pic.twitter.com/0jDoxemIzQ
— Kevin Palmer 💙 (@RealKevinPalmer) January 15, 2021

Sunday World columnist John Aldridge believes the balance of power in the Premier League title race will swing Manchester City's way unless Klopp is given a chance to sign a defender this month.

"I don't think Liverpool can win the league if they stick with the defenders they have at the moment," Aldo told us.

"Fabinho has been brilliant filling in at centre-back, but the suggestion that captain Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum can play in there is nonsense.

"Liverpool need three of their best midfielders to play in the position they are meant to be in, and while Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have done well at centre-back, playing youngsters in such a vital position is a recipe for disaster.

"Rival managers will target the right side of Liverpool's defence, try and get in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold when he bombs forward and look to attack an inexperienced centre-back.

"Liverpool's transfer committee, and especially recruiter-in-chief Michael Edwards, has done a magnificent job of identifying the right players in recent years and now they need to pull another rabbit out of the hat."

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has been strongly linked with a move for Militao in recent weeks, but Spurs would need to sell players before they could bring any more in.

While Real Madrid are believed to be keen to sell the player rather than send him out on loan if possible as they try to cover some of their losses from the Covid-19 crisis, Liverpool could make a move that would be a temporary sticking plaster to their defensive worries.

Will it happen? That depends on Liverpool's owners agreeing to a deal and possibly the sale of a fringe player, with out-of-favour striker Divock Origi continuing to be linked with a move away from Liverpool.