Issa Diop or Mustafi? Liverpool desperately search for last-minute signing

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 13:09 BST
• 1 min read

Liverpool are frantically trying to sign a centre-back before the end of the January transfer window and have made contact for the West Ham defender.

The Reds have been decimated by a string of injuries to their backline this season, with first-choice central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez both ruled out for most of the rest of the season.

Jurgen Klopp has made no secret of his displeasure that Liverpool are still yet to bring a centre-back in this month.

And with 24 hours to go, The Athletic reports that Liverpool have made an enquiry to West Ham about the possibility of signings Issa Diop.

The 23-year-old had been a regular for the Hammers in his first two seasons at the club but has lost his place in David Moyes’ side this campaign.

Another option for Liverpool is Germany international Shkodran Mustafi, who is available for sale having fallen well down the pecking order at Arsenal.

Other defenders to be linked to Liverpool recently include Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, Napoli’s Nikola Maksimovic and Lille’s Sven Botman.

But with the clock running down, Liverpool are running out of time to satisfy Klopp’s wishes.

Jordan Henderson started at centre back alongside Nathaniel Phillips in Liverpool’s match at West Ham on Sunday afternoon.