Despite losing both Giovanni Leoni and now Conor Bradley to season-ending knee injuries, Liverpool are not currently expected to sign a defender in January.
Bradley has joined Leoni and Alexander Isak on the long-term absentee list after suffering ligament and bone damage in his knee in last week’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal.
The Northern Ireland international will undergo surgery this week and is not due back until the summer – with slim hopes as it stands of a role at the World Cup.
That has led to calls for Liverpool to sign a new defender in January, with Crystal Palace‘s Marc Guehi the popular candidate, but according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein that is viewed as unlikely.
Ornstein writes: “For Liverpool, the hope is that he will be back for the start of pre-season and – given the way the club operate – they would not make a permanent signing for such a period of time.”
Liverpool’s right-back options after Conor Bradley injury
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo are named as viable options to cover at right-back beyond regulars Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Calvin Ramsay.
Of course a short-term addition is not ruled out and Liverpool have entered the loan market in recent years for emergency cover.
Midfielder Arthur Melo signed from Juventus at the end of the summer window in 2022 after Jordan Henderson joined Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita on the sidelines.
Centre-back Ozan Kabak arrived in January 2021 following long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Fabinho and Gomez.
However neither Arthur or Kabak played a significant role and it is clear this is not Liverpool’s preferred mode of operation.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2025: Crystal Palace's captain Marc Guéhi (L) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during the FA Community Shield match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium. Palace won 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s ongoing interest in Guehi is noted and a January move would make sense in many ways as the Palace captain would provide top-level competition at centre-back while allowing Gomez to focus on duties at right-back.
But The Athletic’s James Pearce outlines the club’s expectation that Guehi will not leave Selhurst Park until his contract expires at the end of the season.
Pearce writes: “A January move hasn’t been deemed realistic, due to the kind of financial package it would take to attempt to buy a player who is out of contract in just five months.”
Sky Sports have claimed that Palace would be open to a deal below the £35 million agreed with Liverpool at the end of the summer transfer window, but the Guardian‘s Ed Aarons has since reported their price tag as £40 million.
The Big Debate
Should Liverpool break their January transfer stance to sign Marc Guehi?
Despite Conor Bradley joining Giovanni Leoni on the season-ending injury list, reports from The Athletic suggest Liverpool are unlikely to sign a defender this month. With Marc Guehi available and Man City interested, the Reds face a massive gamble: stick to their long-term plan or move now to avoid a ‘hijack’.
Have your say: Do Liverpool need to sign another defender this January? Let us know in the comments.