With Liverpool holding talks with Tottenham over the sale of Andy Robertson this month, the club will need to find a solution as new backup to Milos Kerkez.
Robertson’s desire for regular starts and the acknowledgment of his service to the Reds has seen Liverpool enter talks with Tottenham over a January deal.
If the vice-captain were to depart it would leave Arne Slot‘s defence desperately thin: not only is he established as second-choice left-back, but also cover at centre-back.
This Is Anfield understands plans will be in place for a new backup left-back if Robertson does leave as now appears increasingly likely.
How the Kostas Tsimikas recall works
One such option could be recalling Kostas Tsimikas from his loan spell with AS Roma.
Tsimikas left Liverpool on a season-long loan at the end of the summer transfer window having dropped further down the pecking order following Kerkez’s £40 million move from Bournemouth.
But the Greek has found starts hard to come by in Italy, with only eight of his 16 appearances so far coming as part of Gian Piero Gasperini’s XI.
His return would provide immediate, senior cover for Kerkez with a player who is already settled on Merseyside and proven in both the Premier League and Champions League – though any recall would need to be agreed with Roma.
Liverpool also have further depth within the academy beyond what would be the expected new order of Kerkez as first choice and Tsimikas as second choice.
Calum Scanlon: The next in line from Liverpool’s academy
That could include promoting Calum Scanlon, the 20-year-old who this month made his return after almost 11 months out with a hamstring injury.
Scanlon’s injury cut short a promising loan spell with Millwall last season, but after undergoing his recovery work at the AXA Training Centre he has now featured in two friendlies against a senior Wrexham side and Marseille U19s.
The £500,000 signing from Birmingham has developed significantly in terms of his physique and, providing he is able to stay fit, he looks primed to step up to first-team football.
While there should be caution over any promotion for Scanlon at Liverpool – and another loan would almost certainly be preferred – with Luke Chambers having joined Charlton on loan on Thursday he could be seen as next in line.
Liverpool’s other left-back options: Gomez, Beck and more
Liverpool’s other left-back options within the academy include 19-year-old Clae Ewing and 18-year-old Alvin Ayman, though neither will be considered ready for the first team and both are natural midfielders still learning the role.
Owen Beck is back at the club after hamstring surgery curtailed his loan spell at Derby but the Wales international is not due to return until March at the earliest.
Slot can also consider Joe Gomez as cover at left-back, but the 28-year-old is starting centre-back in the absence of Ibrahima Konate and Giovanni Leoni and is also needed at right-back on occasion.
Liverpool defensive depth chart if Andy Robertson leaves
First Choice
Regular Cover
Emergency
Wataru Endo
Wellity Lucky
Amara Nallo
Wataru Endo
Dominik Szoboszlai
Curtis Jones
Wataru Endo
Calum Scanlon
• Starters / Primary
• Regular Cover
• Emergency / Out of Position
Current Defensive Injuries