Report: Liverpool look set to miss out on Duje Caleta-Car

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There are some doubts over whether Liverpool can tie up a deal to sign Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car prior to tonight’s transfer deadline.

RMC Sport stated last night that the centre-back had been at the airport in France, poised to fly to Manchester ahead of signing for Liverpool.

They go on and suggest that he remained grounded after Marseille pulled the plug after Marseille ultimately decided they wouldn’t be able to sign a replacement in time.

It would represent a hammer blow to Liverpool if a deal can’t be completed, with Caleta-Car high on their list of priorities.

Ben Davies looks set to check in from Preston North End but Marseille’s international defender is proven at the top level.

The 24-year-old signed for the Ligue 1 side from Salzburg in 2018. Earning £48,000-a-week, he has played 76 times for Marseille, including all but one of their 19 games this season.

Caleta-Car stands at 6ft 4in and is superb with the ball at his feet. He also has 10 caps for Croatia and still has time to improve.

Liverpool will have a list of fall back options ahead of a busy day today but the uncompromising defender was a top target.

It now looks to be a case of back to the drawing board as the Premier League champions face a frantic bid to get a defender in time.

Close

The Daily Mail confirms that a deal to sign Davies from Preston is very close after a £2 million bid was accepted.

A left-sided centre-back, he was all set to sign for Celtic but Liverpool’s last dash attempt had pipped the Hoops at the post.

Davies has played over 140 times for the Lilywhites and at 25 will provide some competition for places.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all nursing injuries and Liverpool will hope to get a couple of deals over the line today.