Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano thinks \u201cthe emergency is different\u201d this time after Liverpool previously ruled out signing a new defender in January.<\/p>\n
The Reds missed out on signing Marc Guehi in the summer transfer window as Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute<\/strong><\/a> with Manchester City bringing him to the Etihad Stadium in January<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n After Giovanni Leoni picked up a season-ending injury early on in the campaign it meant Liverpool<\/strong><\/a> were very short in central defence with Joe Gomez their only back-up to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at centre-back.<\/p>\n Conor Bradley then suffered a serious injury earlier this month<\/strong><\/a> with Frimpong \u2013 who is a lot more offensive \u2013 their main alternative, although Gomez can also play there.<\/p>\n Liverpool had to start their 6-0 win over Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night with midfielder Ryan Gravenberch in central defence, while Frimpong picked up an injury and had to be substituted on four minutes.<\/p>\n Dominik Szoboszlai has also played at right-back this season but that takes away his ability further up the pitch and Liverpool boss Arne Slot insisted they are taking a long-term approach to the transfer market.<\/p>\n READ:\u00a0Alonso \u2018requests\u2019 at Liverpool ranked from impossible Olise to nailed-on Salah<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n When asked if injuries meant he would consider an \u2019emergency or loan\u2019 option before the transfer window shuts, Slot replied: \u201cWe as a club always make decisions that we, at least, think [are] smart decisions. So, we not only look at the short term, we also look at the long term, longer term \u2013 that\u2019s why we sign young players as well, very good players but young ones that can still develop.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we can see this development with a few. And it always depends on are there players available that we think can help us? And if they are, can we afford them? And does this also be helpful for the longer-term future because our players come back from injury as well?<\/p>\n \u201cI just said we don\u2019t have a squad where we have four right-backs and 12 midfielders and three or four No.9s \u2013 that\u2019s not how it works over here. So, we have to do the smart things for the near future but also for the longer future.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s first see how Jeremie [Frimpong] is. Maybe he\u2019s not able to play Saturday but maybe he\u2019s able to play one or two days later. We now go into a schedule with one game a week, so that would usually mean less injuries but you\u2019re never sure.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365\u2026 But Romano has now hinted that Liverpool could consider a move for a defender before the deadline as \u201cthe emergency is different\u201d now.<\/p>\n
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