Liverpool are being regularly linked with a move for Lille centre-back Sven Botman now that the January transfer window has opened and the former Ajax man could be the perfect addition to Jurgen Klopp's squad.
What's the word?
According to Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast (via Express), Liverpool are in talks with the 20-year-old's agent and could make a transfer bid this month.
Klopp is currently without a senior centre-back in his first-team squad, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all currently sidelined due to injury.
Better than Liverpool's current options?
Fabinho has done a superb job filling in there, whilst youngsters Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams, who Klopp labelled as "exceptional" back in November, have also performed admirably. However, the fact that Manchester United are now level on points with the Reds at the top of the Premier League emphasises that the Merseyside club must improve their defence in January, as sticking with their current inexperienced backline for the rest of the season seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
Fortunately, they look to have identified a quality replacement in Botman, who has enjoyed a superb start to the season with Lille, having averaged a superb 7.13 rating across his 17 appearances in the French top-flight.
Castles was certainly full of praise for the young defender during the podcast, saying:
"He's tall and quick and I think this is one of the things that factors into Liverpool's assessment, he's incredibly strong one-on-one.