Exclusive: Didi Hamann suggests Liverpool should sign centre-back in January

As will be the case with several other Premier League clubs, winter signings are expected to be in limited supply for Liverpool during the notoriously challenging mid-season market, especially with Jurgen Klopp's side undergoing a major midfield reshuffle over the summer.

However, a raft of injuries to key defenders has led to calls for Liverpool to open their warchest, as Joel Matip - whose contract expires this summer - has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL rupture.

Klopp is also working without both of his senior left-backs in Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, the latter of whom broke his collarbone against Arsenal on December 23, and no timeframe has been placed on his recovery.

Meanwhile, Robertson has spent nearly three months on the sidelines owing to a shoulder operation, having suffered a painful dislocation while representing Scotland in October, and he is not expected to return until February.

With Tsimikas and Robertson sidelined, Joe Gomez has filled in as an emergency left-back in recent weeks, while Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah represent the Reds' senior central options, but the former two and Gomez have a history of knee problems.

Liverpool have reinforced their backline already this month, as all of Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams and Owen Beck have returned from loan spells elsewhere, while academy graduates Conor Bradley and Luke Chambers are also making first-team squads regularly nowadays.

Given Gomez's recent exploits on the left-hand side of defence, former Champions League winner Hamann does not believe that a full-back should be sought this month, but a new central option would not go amiss.

Asked by Sports Mole with King Casino Bonus whether Liverpool should try to bolster their backline this winter, Hamann replied: "It depends how long the guys are out.

"Tsimikas probably six to eight weeks with his collarbone, hopefully Robertson will be back in the next few weeks. But Joe Gomez, when he's played there, he's done a very good job.

"He's a very underrated player, when he comes in he makes the odd mistake, but not as much as he used to do. You can think about it, but it's a tricky thing to bring a player in for four to six weeks.

"Hopefully by February Tsimikas and Robertson are both back, so they miss the next four or five games. I think they're pretty well-equipped. A centre-back probably would make sense with the injury of Matip who probably can't play again this season, but left-back I'd stay put for now."

A host of centre-backs have been linked with transfers to Liverpool in 2024, including Benfica's Antonio Silva and Sporting Lisbon's Ousmane Diomande, although both Primeira Liga-based players would likely prove too expensive this month.

A swoop for Lille teenager Leny Yoro is seemingly off the cards for the same reason, while reported target Nino was sold to Zenit St Petersburg by Fluminense, although Borussia Monchengladbach's Ko Itakura could be a viable option.

Liverpool were without Van Dijk for Sunday's 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal due to illness, but Klopp expects to have his captain back for Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Fulham at Anfield.