Report: Liverpool showing interest in AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez

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Liverpool are said to be showing interest in Atalanta star Roger Ibanez.

AS Roma Live claim the Reds have sounded out the Brazilian as a potential signing, as the club seek to bring in cover for the injured Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

Ibanez signed for Atalanta in January of 2019 from Fluminense, but featured very little in the remainder of the 2018/19 season and beginning of 2019/20.

He was loaned to AS Roma in January 2020, and the South American has made a real impression for I Giallorossi.

His performances have apparently led to interest from the Premier League champions and also French giants Paris Saint-Germain, who want a replacement for Thiago Silva.

The development comes after the player was apparently the subject of interest from Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, with both clubs apparently making €30 million/£27 million offers.

Supposedly, Roma are obligated to buy Ibanez at the end of his loan for around £7 million (Goal), and would demand a fee of around €35-€40 million/£31.5-£36 million to part with him straight away.

TBR’s View – One to keep an eye on

With Ibanez on a season-long loan with Roma, a January move will not be possible for Liverpool – which doesn’t exactly help given the current situation with injuries.

Should Liverpool dip into the market next month, it will likely mean they won’t need to make a summer play for Ibanez.

He is still worth keeping an eye on though, as January deals can be difficult to pull off, meaning Jurgen Klopp may end up putting his faith in the likes of Fabinho, Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips to cover Gomez and van Dijk.

The club could then make a move for Ibanez in the summer if he’s impressed enough.