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Liverpool's Premier League title defense has already had its fair share of drama and controversy. The Reds won their first league title in over 30 years in the 2019-20 season and started the season in fine form with wins against Leeds United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
However, over the past month or so, Jurgen Klopp's side have been blighted by a series of high-profile injuries. Talismanic defender Virgil van Dijk ruptured his ACL in the 2-2 draw against Everton and is set to miss the entirety of the season, while the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Kostas Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri and several others have joined him in the treatment table at some point.
The Liverpool rearguard is paper-thin as things stand
Liverpool's luck went from bad to worse earlier today, as England defender Joe Gomez reportedly picked up a series injury and is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Klopp and co have their work cut out for them at the back, with Joel Matip the only fit senior central defender at the club as things stand.
The likes of Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips have featured for Liverpool this season, but neither of them are experienced enough to handle a title challenge at this stage of their careers.
Liverpool are expected to dip into the transfer window in January to add to their rearguard, and here are five players who could give them a much-needed boost midway through the season.
#5 Diego Carlos | Sevilla
Brazilian defender Diego Carlos has enjoyed a stunning rise to stardom in recent seasons. Under the tutelage of Julen Lopetegui, the central defender has quickly become one of the best defenders in La Liga and has been reportedly been scouted by the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in recent seasons.
Carlos is a no-nonsense defender who likes to play on the front foot and played a pivotal role in Sevilla UEFA Europa League triumph last season. The Brazilian also scored an overhead kick in the final against Inter Milan to win the game for his side, as he capped off an outstanding season on a personal level with a trophy.
At the age of 27, Carlos is at the right age to take the next step in his career and could be braced for a bid from Liverpool in the coming months.
#4 Ben White | Brighton & Hove Albion
Ben White is a household name in English football and is quickly becoming one of the most exciting defenders in the country. Having made a name for himself with a brilliant loan spell with Leeds United in the Championship, White returned to parent club Brighton for the 2020-21 season, where he finds himself at the heart of the backline.
The youngster is also capable of deputizing as a defensive midfielder due to his ability on the ball and is renowned for his cross-field diagonals. With Van Dijk missing for the entirety of the season, the 23-year-old ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to a like for like replacement for the Dutchman, while he is also young enough to take his game up a gear or two.
White was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer, but the Reds opted not to sign a central defender at the time.
#3 Ozan Kabak | Schalke
Another central defender who has been heavily linked with Liverpool, Ozan Kabak could be the one Jurgen Klopp turns to in the January transfer window. The towering Turk is one of the most exciting defenders in the Bundesliga and was wanted by Bayern Munich before he sealed a move to Schalke from Stuttgart.
Kabak is already a household name in Germany and is a full Turkish international at the age of 20, as he continues to turn heads across Europe with his performances. The Schalke defender, who idolizes Virgil van Dijk, was also wanted by AC Milan in the summer, but the move failed to come to fruition.
With Schalke in a state of financial turmoil and the 20-year-old available for as little as £22 million, Liverpool could look to capitalize on the situation and snap him up in January.
#2 Dayot Upamecano | RB Leipzig
Despite being just 22 years of age, Dayot Upamecano is already an indispensable member of an exciting RB Leipzig team and recently made his debut for the French national team. The towering defender, who was believed to be a target for Manchester United last summer, has a release clause in his contract that allows him to leave for a fee believed to be in the region of £40 million.
Upamecano delivered a string of magnificent displays in the UEFA Champions League last season, as Julian Naglesmann's side were beaten in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain. The Frenchman has all the necessary tools to become one of the best defenders in world football and is on the brink of a big-money move.
Liverpool have also been linked to the defender, and the Reds could use their good relationship with Leipzig to sort out a deal for him in January.
#1 Jules Kounde | Sevilla
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde delivered a series of eye-catching displays in his side's dream UEFA Europa League run last summer. While all eyes were on central defensive partner Diego Carlos, it could be argued that the Frenchman is the more talented of the two, as he continues to go from strength to strength.
Koude is lightning quick and has also shown that his positional sense is amongst the best in the business. Additionally, he is also capable of playing the ball out from the back and has all the necessary qualities to succeed in a top team. Manchester city reportedly tabled a bid for him earlier this summer before snapping up Ruben Dias, but Sevilla stood firm on their valuation and refused to part with their prized asset.
The 22-year-old also has keen admirers at Real Madrid and won't come cheap. However, if Liverpool are looking for a premium central defender in January, Kounde might well be the pick of the bunch for Klopp and co.
