Despite already making seven additions to his Liverpool squad this summer, Jurgen Klopp has admitted he may move for more signings.
Klopp has brought in Alex Manninger, Loris Karius, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane, as well as January recruit Marko Grujic, for a total of £61.9 million.
This has bolstered the German’s squad significantly, and speaking last week he stressed that “this time it is my team.”
But with injuries to Karius, Matip, Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno among others leaving his selection thin ahead of next Sunday’s Premier League opener, he has hinted at further reinforcement.
“Is the activity all over? I have no idea. I don’t think so. We will see what happens,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“If the Roma game was our base then we have to change everything but it isn’t.
“Was the Milan game more our base? Maybe. But Roma? No.
“Gomez, Sakho and Lucas [Leiva] are all injured so of course we haven’t got enough centre-backs at the moment. But we have to handle situations.
“There have been too many games with not enough centre-backs.
“We can’t sign someone just for a few weeks. In other positions we do have cover.”
One of the key positions Klopp could be looking to strengthen is left-back, as having sold Brad Smith to Bournemouth for £6 million, he has little cover for first-choice option Moreno.
The 49-year-old has used James Milner in this role in recent games, but the Reds’ vice-captain is far from a natural.
A move for Leicester City‘s Ben Chilwell broke down earlier in the summer, while the Echo suggests that interest in Cologne’s Jonas Hector is unlikely to result in a deal.
The Bundesliga side value Hector at around £20 million, with Liverpool put off by this lofty fee.
Significant outgoings this summer, including the sales of Smith, Jordon Ibe, Martin Skrtel and Joe Allen, leave Klopp in a strong position financially.
Having already recouped £46.5 million in transfer fees, Liverpool have spent less than £20 million in the market so far, with a possible £30 million deal to send Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace likely boosting this further.
Moving for another left-back, as well as a defensive-minded midfielder, would be wise this summer, with competition and quality scarce in both positions.
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