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Liverpool is contemplating the addition of another center-back in the January transfer window, following the news that Giovanni Leoni has undergone surgery for an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Leoni was recruited to strengthen Liverpool's defense alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez. However, his debut for the Reds against Southampton last month was abruptly ended just 81 minutes into the match when he suffered an injury after a clumsy challenge.
Despite immediate medical attention, Leoni had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher. After the match, Slot conceded that the situation appeared bleak for the young center-back.
It was later confirmed that Leoni had indeed torn his ACL. In his pre-Crystal Palace press conference last Friday, Slot disclosed that the player could be out of action for roughly 12 months.
With Van Dijk, Konate and Gomez now being the only three fit senior central defenders at Liverpool, there's speculation that the Reds might dip into the transfer market to sign a free agent or make a new acquisition in January.
As per talkSPORT, internal discussions are currently taking place to decide whether another center-back is needed in the winter transfer window.
Marc Guehi, who was on the brink of a move to Liverpool last summer, is reportedly considering finishing the season at Crystal Palace, representing England in the World Cup, and then deciding his next club as a free agent.
Liverpool has long held an interest in Chelsea's Levi Colwill, who would have lined up against the Reds Saturday in the Premier League.
However, it's understood that Liverpool don't believe he's available and have consequently never tabled an offer. Colwill has been sidelined since August following a devastating ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Liverpool is still in the process of extending Konate's contract, which has less than nine months remaining. The Reds' most recent formal offer was submitted prior to the summer transfer window closing.
Real Madrid remains interested and can begin discussions for a pre-contract agreement from January.
Liverpool would prefer Konate to extend his contract before the year's end, but as demonstrated with Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk, they're prepared to extend negotiations to secure the best deal for all involved.
Alongside Colwill and Guehi, Liverpool are also monitoring Sven Botman, Willian Pacho, Zeno Debast and Ousmane Diomande, who have all impressed in the club's data-driven approach.
Newcastle have no plans or intentions to sell Botman, while Pacho is contracted to PSG until 2029. Sporting pair Debast and Diomande have previously been linked with a switch to the Premier League.
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