Liverpool on the cusp of singing Premier League star they’ve wanted for years | OneFootball

With Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley both set to be side lined for some time, it's clear that a new defender or two needs to be brought in.

The Reds still have a chance of winning the Champions League and the FA Cup this season and while the latter of the two may not be at the top of their priority list, the Champions League will be their main goal for the campaign.

Several defenders have been linked with a transfer this January, however, it seems like Richard Hughes and Slot have finally settled on a target to pursue.

That is, according to an update from Lewis Steele via his personal X account.

"Lutsharel Geertruida was scouted by Liverpool many times last season at RB Leipzig," he wrote.

"He appeals as he is versatile and knows Arne Slot well.

"Discussions are complex given three parties involved (he’s on loan at Sunderland) but Liverpool are in talks trying to make it happen."

Liverpool signing Lutsharel Geertruida on loan makes plenty of sense

Although Liverpool and Slot would likely prefer to sign a homegrown player due to the Premier League and Champions League squad registration rules, it feels unlikely that a potential transfer target could pop up in that regard before the deadline.

If they had extensively explored the option of signing a new defender at the start of the January window, a name or two would have probably cropped up.

Instead, they've chosen to wait until the dying embers and are now working against the clock to try and get a deal over the line.

It's likely that there are a few better options on the transfer market that the Dutchman but, since Slot knows exactly how to play the defender and what his strengths and weaknesses are, the adjustment period shouldn't take too long.

And, since he's likely to be one of Liverpool's only fit right-backs for the next few weeks, quickly getting used to the way that Liverpool play is essential.

His versatility could also be essential for the Anfield outfit, especially if they continue getting injuries as frequently as they have over the past few weeks.