08 December 2023 , 13:45
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Jurgen Klopp has played down suggestions that Liverpool will act in the January transfer window in the wake of the serious injury sustained by Joel Matip.
The veteran Reds defender, 32, will miss the rest of the season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in last week's dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham. That prognosis has fuelled speculation that Klopp could attempt to sign a replacement in January given Liverpool are back in the Premier League title picture.
Mirror Football understands that Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix is on their radar, along with Marc Guehi. But Klopp seemed to rule out the prospect of dipping into the transfer market in January ahead of this weekend's match against Crystal Palace.
When he was asked about signing a defender in his pre-match press conference, Klopp responded: "You always talk about transfers like it is the easiest thing in the world. They all cost money, it must be the right player. We still have four centre-backs. Tell me a club which wants to sell a top, top centre-half. Tell me one."
He continued: "Is it now perfect? As long as we can go with those four [centre-backs]. If not, then it will be a bit more tricky with the amount of games coming up. It was never wonderland when you bring a world-class centre-back until the other one is fit again.
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"As long as other clubs don't put them under the Christmas tree for us and say, 'Take it and use it for as long as you need it'... I didn't really think about it yet because it was only five days since we had that problem. I don't think so, to be honest."
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Jurgen Klopp has hinted Liverpool are unlikely to sign a replacement for the injured Joel Matip in January (Liverpool FC)Matip is due to be a free agent in the summer and it remains to be seen whether or not he will play for the club again given he will not return to fitness until after his contract has expired.
Klopp, though, hinted that he would like the club to look after a player who has clocked up over 200 appearances since moving to Anfield in 2016. “I’m pretty sure the club will show their class, just how they should do,” Klopp said when he was asked if Matip had played his final game for the Reds.
“I’m pretty sure the club told Joel already that whatever happens so long as he is injured. Now we have to make decisions together with Joel, how it looks after that. That’s a normal thing to do. But yes he deserves all the support from us and he will get it.”