Liverpool are believed to have invited Coventry City’s teenage centre-back Cian Harries on trial, with a view to a possible transfer.
The Reds have been making moves for a number of promising young players this season, as academy director Alex Inglethorpe overhauls his ranks.
This has seen two 15-year-olds arrive towards the end of 2016, with centre-back Emeka Obi and forward Jack Bearne joining from Bury and Notts County respectively.
Whether Harries is being targeted for a youth-team role or a place among Jurgen Klopp‘s first team remains to be seen, but the 19-year-old is reportedly set to train with the latter.
According to the Mail, Harries has been invited to Melwood to join Klopp and the senior squad, and this could lead to a permanent deal in the future.
Despite Coventry not wishing to part ways with their star defender, who is contracted until 2020, they are said to have acknowledged that it would be “too good an opportunity for all parties to turn down.”
However, the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce has refuted these claims, saying “the Reds are among a host of clubs to have closely monitored Harries’ development but there are currently no plans for them to make a move for him.”
But nevertheless, a move for another young centre-back could be feasible, given their current defensive situation.
Klopp has Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Lucas Leiva as senior centre-back options, with Joe Gomez working his way back to full fitness and a likely first-team role in the future.
Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori are among the other centre-backs on the books at Anfield, but neither are believed to have a future under Klopp.
Most interestingly, Lucas has been linked with a move to Inter Milan in the January transfer window, though no deal has ben brokered as of yet, and this could open up a position.
Gomez, who is currently with the Liverpool U23s after a year out with an ACL injury, is likely to fill that role as one of Klopp’s backup centre-backs.
Therefore, Harries could be earmarked to take over from Gomez in the U23s, with a view to stepping up to the first team.
Harries has made 14 appearances for Coventry this season so far, including eight in League One and against Norwich City in the League Cup, and is considered one of the brightest prospects at the Ricoh Arena.
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