According to reports, Liverpool are set to miss out on Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic with the German giants unwilling to sell him in January.
The Reds are in desperate need of defensive cover following an injury crisis that has left Jurgen Klopp severely understaffed in the heart of the backline.
Against Exeter City in the 2-2 FA Cup draw on Friday evening, the German coach played Tiago Ilori—recently returned from his loan stay at Aston Villa—and out-of-favour full-back Jose Enrique in the centre of the defence, but the pairing is hardly a long-term solution.
Klopp headed into that tie with 13 players out injured, with central defenders Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren joining fellow crocks Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez on the sidelines after picking up injuries in the Capital One Cup semi-final victory over Stoke City [Mirror].
The Mirror have reported that the Reds are eyeing Subotic—who enjoyed great success under Klopp at Dortmund—as a possible defensive solution.
However, as per the Liverpool Echo, the club are unwilling to let the centre-back leave.
“To Subotic, I can say that we need him as an integral part of the team,” the club’s manager Thomas Tuchel began.
“If it remains solely my decision, there is not the slightest reason for a change.”
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