Sherwood floats dramatic idea of £100m Liverpool bid to solve centre-back crisis Tim Sherwood admits that Liverpool look unlikely to solve their defensive crisis this transfer window, but has suggested a dramatic swoop for Wesley Fofana. Jurgen Klopp‘s men will end this month’s window just as they started it – without any senior centre-back options. Joel Matip has suffered another injury so soon after returning from his groin issue. However, his latest problem – ankle ligament damage – is likely to be significantly worse. As such, the Reds will remain with a stark shortage of options at the back for the foreseeable future; Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk remain still long-term absentees. Thus, various reports have posed several solutions. West Ham’s Issa Diop, USA international Aaron Long and Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi are all supposedly targets. Speaking to Sky Sports News (Saturday January 30, 14:07), Sherwood insisted that a short-term deal – such as the one which has linked Long to Anfield – would work best. “It’s difficult, what’s out there? Do you go out there and get someone, and then when Gomez and Van Dijk are fit you end up with a player who shouldn’t be anywhere near a Liverpool shirt?,” he said. “I don’t think they’re in the scattergun approach method. I think Michael Edwards, the sporting director, is very calculated in what he does. “I’m sure he’ll be in communication with Jurgen Klopp. Perhaps there’s someone on a short-term deal who’s out of contract now that they can bring in, I think they should do that. “Someone who knows the job if they’re playing in that position, but centre-back is a specialist position.” Klopp has been vocal throughout the month that he is not willing to spend large sums of money. Indeed, in Friday’s press conference, he pointed out that there are no “£80million centre-backs” on the market. According to pundit Sherwood, though, Liverpool could “push the boat out” to prise Fofana from Premier League rivals Leicester. Sherwood tips dramatic Fofana scenario “Unless they really push the boat out and go get a Declan Rice, who can also play in midfield, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” the pundit added. “Or go and get a young one like Fofana and really push the boat out by offering £100m plus to test the arm of Leicester. “I think it’s going to be difficult for them to do, so will they do anything? I don’t think they will.” Fofana has proved an excellent addition for the Foxes since signing from Saint Etienne in the last transfer window. Meanwhile, reports claim that Germany World Cup winner Mustafi meets two key criteria for Liverpool chiefs. Read more… The post Sherwood floats dramatic idea of £100m Liverpool bid to solve centre-back crisis appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Tim Sherwood admits that Liverpool look unlikely to solve their defensive crisis this transfer window, but has suggested a dramatic swoop for Wesley Fofana.

Jurgen Klopp‘s men will end this month’s window just as they started it – without any senior centre-back options.

Joel Matip has suffered another injury so soon after returning from his groin issue. However, his latest problem – ankle ligament damage – is likely to be significantly worse.

As such, the Reds will remain with a stark shortage of options at the back for the foreseeable future; Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk remain still long-term absentees.

Thus, various reports have posed several solutions. West Ham’s Issa Diop, USA international Aaron Long and Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi are all supposedly targets.

Speaking to Sky Sports News (Saturday January 30, 14:07), Sherwood insisted that a short-term deal – such as the one which has linked Long to Anfield – would work best.

“It’s difficult, what’s out there? Do you go out there and get someone, and then when Gomez and Van Dijk are fit you end up with a player who shouldn’t be anywhere near a Liverpool shirt?,” he said.

“I don’t think they’re in the scattergun approach method. I think Michael Edwards, the sporting director, is very calculated in what he does.

“I’m sure he’ll be in communication with Jurgen Klopp. Perhaps there’s someone on a short-term deal who’s out of contract now that they can bring in, I think they should do that.

“Someone who knows the job if they’re playing in that position, but centre-back is a specialist position.”

Klopp has been vocal throughout the month that he is not willing to spend large sums of money. Indeed, in Friday’s press conference, he pointed out that there are no “£80million centre-backs” on the market.

According to pundit Sherwood, though, Liverpool could “push the boat out” to prise Fofana from Premier League rivals Leicester.

Sherwood tips dramatic Fofana scenario

“Unless they really push the boat out and go get a Declan Rice, who can also play in midfield, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” the pundit added.

“Or go and get a young one like Fofana and really push the boat out by offering £100m plus to test the arm of Leicester.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for them to do, so will they do anything? I don’t think they will.”

Fofana has proved an excellent addition for the Foxes since signing from Saint Etienne in the last transfer window.

Meanwhile, reports claim that Germany World Cup winner Mustafi meets two key criteria for Liverpool chiefs.

Read more…

The post Sherwood floats dramatic idea of £100m Liverpool bid to solve centre-back crisis appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Jonny Whitfield