Liverpool head coach Arne Slot could look to improve his squad in January.placeholder image
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot could look to improve his squad in January. | Getty Images
Liverpool have been linked with a top European defender in recent weeks
Liverpool may look to the January transfer window to secure reinforcements as Arne Slot’s side hope to put up a fight for their Premier League title defence in the second half of the season.
Eight points off leaders Arsenal at present, there is a long way to go but a lot of work to be done if the Reds are to have any chance of winning major honours, either domestically or in Europe, come the latter stages of the season.
Defensive targets for the January window have already begun to emerge, with continued speculation around the future of Marc Guehi, while the Reds are reportedly weighing up a move for another top central defender.
Liverpool can sign Nico Schlotterbeck for ‘cheaper than expected’
Links between the Reds and Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck continue to intensify, as recent reports by Football Insider have revealed that Dortmund might be prepared to sell the Germany international for ‘less than expected’ due to the player’s current contract situation.
The 26-year-old sees his current deal run out in 2027 and has reportedly rejected a new deal with Dortmund, a development which has even been reported by the official Liverpool website as part of their ‘media watch’.
Schlotterbeck’s insistence on ‘departing Germany’ in the near future has left an ‘open door’ for the Reds to secure a cut-price move in 2026, despite rival interest from the likes of Bayern Munich. The potential arrival of Schlotterbeck may also spell the end for Ibrahima Konate, who continues to cause a stir with his contract situation and could depart the club next summer.
Liverpool ‘in the race’ for Schlotterbeck
Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast: “Liverpool will be definitely in that race to try and sign him and bring him to England if they can.
“A top player like that, you might be able to get him for a cut-price fee next summer, especially if he’s going into the final year of his contract with Dortmund without any agreement on an extension. They might be able to get him for a lot lower fee than you would normally expect for a current Germany international as well.”
Whether a cut-price deal could be struck in the winter window remains to be seen, as Slot will have a decision on his hands over whether he should strike early to bring in a potentially season-changing signing. Particularly if it becomes clear that Konate will not be staying with the club beyond summer 2026, it would be a wholly risky move to continue with the Frenchman as Slot’s undisputed first-choice partner for Virgil van Dijk. Some big decisions will need to be made over the coming months ahead of what could be a blockbuster end to the season.
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