Liverpool are interested in signing Zeki Celik, who is due to leave AS Roma as a free agent at the end of June.
Liverpool were told to sign a defender in the 2026 January transfer window due to a lack of depth.
However, they failed to do so, and Arne Slot has been left with little to no cover at right-back and centre-back.
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The Roma talent could have solved that issue, and Liverpool have been linked with Celik this year.
It, of course, comes with the versatile defender now having less than six months left to run on his Roma contract.
The Italian side are looking to tie him down to fresh terms, but a report from Tuttosport now says he’s rejected a €2.8m-a-year (£2.4m) contract from them.
Liverpool could face competition for the defender, however, as Juventus and Inter Milan are also credited with an interest in the player.
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Zeki Celik could replace Joe Gomez
Celik is a natural right-back, but has played 10 games as a central defender for Roma this term.
The 29-year-old is competent in both positions and could be an ideal replacement for Joe Gomez.
Gomez has been tipped to leave Liverpool in 2026, with David Lynch saying: “I think you can make the case [for Liverpool] to sign a centre half who can play right back because you can 100% guarantee Liverpool are going to need one of those next season because Joe Gomez is very unlikely to be here.”
How do you think Liverpool should handle the contract situations of Konate, Van Dijk, and Gomez?
Van Dijk (2027), Gomez (2027) and Konate (2026) are all out of contract soon!
Virgil van Dijk applauds supporters after Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield.
Credit: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
The Englishman is under contract until 2027 and has been at Anfield since 2015.
However, his stint has been marred by injury issues, the latest of which he is just returning from.
Gomez was included in the matchday squad against Sunderland on Wednesday, and it remains to be seen if he will now be given a start when Liverpool face off with Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.
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