Liverpool supporters are nervously watching the January transfer window as they hope for more defensive cover.
The Reds are desperately thin at both centre-back and right-back heading into the second half of the season, but reports have suggested they are happy to see out the campaign with their current options.
That stance looked set to be tested after news arrived that Conor Bradley will miss the rest of the season.
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Xabi Alonso pictured during Real Madrid's La Liga match against Real Betis at the Bernabeu (Credit: Getty Images/Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto).
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Although Bradley avoided an even more serious ACL injury after jarring his knee in the turf at the Emirates Stadium last week, the Liverpool right-back will not be seen for some time.
Arne Slot has several unorthodox options such as Dominik Szoboszlai and even Wataru Endo, but in terms of ‘natural’ fits, Jeremie Frimpong is as good as it gets right now. There is one more player available to Slot who could fill in comfortably at right-back, however, and that is young Calvin Ramsay. With Ramsay having barely featured over the past three seasons, he could now be set for a run in the team.
Liverpool block Calvin Ramsay loan move
After injury struck immediately upon his arrival at Liverpool in 2022, Ramsay has felt like a forgotten man for a while now.
His case has not been helped by a series of poor loan moves in which he has either struggled for form or barely featured.
Calvin Ramsay challenges for the ball with Yeremy Pino during Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
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Behind Bradley, Frimpong and Joe Gomez in the pecking order, it seemed likely that Ramsay may head out for first-team minutes this January as well. But after Bradley’s issue, that no longer looks like being the case.
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are no longer intending to let Ramsay leave on loan this month as they scramble for right-back cover.
The 22-year-old is reportedly being seen as ‘another option’ for Slot at right-back, with Endo interestingly named as another potential choice.
Where should Calvin Ramsay now rank in Liverpool’s right-back options?
Conor Bradley won't play again this term…
Calvin Ramsay warms up ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Dan Istitene).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dan Istitene
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Are Liverpool making the right decision with Ramsay?
There is clear logic in the call not to allow Ramsay to leave this month. Once upon a time he was seen as a player with big potential who could even be the future of right-back for Liverpool.
But those days feel long ago now, and with Slot even playing midfielders ahead of him, it seems fairly certain that the Scot has no long-term future at Anfield.
In actuality, not allowing him to leave on loan may do greater damage in the future.
Let Ramsay go, and he can prove his fitness and show himself to be a genuine option to compete with Bradley when he returns over the summer. Keep him and he will likely barely play at all, hampering his development further.
The only way this is a positive for Ramsay and for Liverpool is if he gets his chance and takes it properly. That cannot be completely ruled out, of course, but for now it seems that a place on the Liverpool bench for the rest of the campaign is as good as things will get.
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