Tim Sherwood suggests Liverpool should look at ‘outstanding’ 20-year-old Premier League centre-back

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Liverpool may have triumphed in their big Premier League clash on Thursday night, but Joel Matip’s injury means Jurgen Klopp continues to have problems in defence.

Optus Sport pundit Tim Sherwood, discussing what the Reds could do on the issue, says Leicester City star Wesley Fofana would be a good candidate, albeit a very long shot this month.

Matip missed the 3-2 FA Cup loss at Manchester United last Saturday but returned for the Premier League win at Tottenham, partnering Jordan Henderson in defence.

However, the Cameroon international had to be substituted at the break with what Klopp later confirmed as ankle ligament damage.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez long-term absentees and Fabinho struggling with another muscle problem, the Reds finished the match with Nathaniel Phillips alongside Henderson.

Klopp has stressed that he is not prepared to sanction a new signing before the transfer window closes simply to add extra numbers to his squad.

And Sherwood admits the situation poses a big dilemma for the Anfield side, who would have to decide whether to go for an experienced player happy to cover until the summer, a versatile player, or a young rising star – if at all.

“I think it is always good, sometimes if you can find an experienced player who knows the geography of the position, a centre-back who is not going to come in on a long-term contract, perhaps he is happy to take until the end of the season,” he told Optus Sport. “You put him in the shop window … But where is that player?

“Other than that, I think you bring in a versatile player, someone like a Declan Rice type. I know they’re not going to be able to get Declan Rice. You do pay a lot of money, but they can also play in various positions. They can also play in central midfield, but they’re really comfortable playing centre-back, like an Eric Dier – that type. But where is that?

“Or you go for the young one and do spend the money, blow a team out the water, you do offer 70 million for (Wesley) Fofana at Leicester who is an unbelievably outstanding player who looks like he is developing every single game. I’m not sure he’ll be available, they’ve got their own fight Leicester. There are options, but what is the right option for Liverpool?”

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Fofana is an outstanding player who has certainly shown he’s a cut above, but as Sherwood says, it’s unlikely – Leicester are in the title race, aren’t exactly short of money, and the 20-year-old is one of the first names on Brendan Rodgers’ team sheet.

However, Klopp cannot go on like this – ideally, the short-term veteran option would probably be the best one, just to cover until the end of the season, after which Van Dijk and Gomez can return to action and reclaim their places in the starting XI.