Liverpool make contact with agent of Ligue 1 defender

Liverpool have reportedly made contact with the representative of Lille defender Sven Botman regarding a possible January move.

The Merseyside giants are without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez with serious knee injuries and Joel Matip could also be sidelined for a while with an adductor problem.

Hence, it has left Jurgen Klopp with Fabinho as the only senior centre-back in the squad with the likes of Rhy Williams and Nathaniel Phillips inexperienced at the Premier League level.

That could tempt the Reds to purchase a new centre-back at the turn of the year and Metro claims that the club have enquired over the availability of Botman through his agent.

Botman was signed by Lille in the summer as a replacement for Gabriel Magalhaes, who joined Arsenal. He has since been hugely impressive for Les Dogues, who are only behind Lyon in Ligue 1 on goal difference.

As such, the club are unlikely to consider his sale midway through the season unless a significant bid is made. While the Reds have the financial resources, they have shown the reluctance to spend of late.