£17m will seal deal for defender Liverpool missed out on in January | OneFootball

Liverpool have often found themselves short at the back this season - particularly in the right-back sector.

It was expected that Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley would battle it out for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s spot in the team but it hasn’t worked out that way.

Owing to a long-term injury to Bradley - as well as the frequent absences of Frimpong - Arne Slot has often found himself searching for solutions.

Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai have been redeployed from their usual midfield stations while Joe Gomez has had more football than he might have otherwise expected this term.

The England international has also featured plenty at centre-back - with Giovanni Leoni injured and Richard Hughes missing out on a deal for Marc Guehi. There are however long-term question marks against the 28-year-old - who is out of contract in 2027.

Liverpool’s longest-serving player could be sold this summer and if that happens then the sporting director Hughes may opt to seek a replacement in the market.

Finding experienced, high-quality cover at centre-back and at right-back won’t be easy but the Premier League champions could opt to move for another target they failed to land in January.

Geertruida back on the menu

Lutsharel Geertruida - who captained Feyenoord during Arne Slot’s time in charge - moved to Sunderland on loan from RB Leipzig last summer.

The Reds tried to free him up from that loan in the winter and bring him to Anfield instead but for many reasons the deal was considered a non-starter.

But BILD is now writing that the Netherlands international could be available for only €20m (£17m) this summer - a bargain for a player of his stature.

If Sunderland don’t take up their option to sign the 25-year-old permanently then Richard Hughes may well strike an opportunistic deal for the versatile performer.

RB Leipzig clear-out incoming

“Also Lutsharel Geertruida (25/Sunderland), whom the Premier League club can sign permanently for around 20 million euros and in whom Liverpool showed interest in the winter,” the report reads.

Geertruida is expected to be among the exodus of RB Leipzig players this summer as they seek €100m in sales according to the report.

Liverpool-linked Castello Lukeba will depart from the defence while Arthur Vermeeren and Eljif Elmas could also go.

It remains to be seen what will be done over top trump Yan Diomande - whose one sale could wipe out Leipzig’s money worries at a stroke. They are however resolved to keep the Ivorian talent for one more season.