Forget Upamecano, Liverpool are eyeing a move for another ‘outstanding’ centre-back - journalist

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Liverpool are keen to bring in another defender and they appear to have added another name to the list.The Reds certainly have their issues right now but the biggest one seems to be stemming from their defence.Not only are they conceding far too many goals, but they have a bit of an injury crisis at the back as well, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez their only fully-fit options.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Before this, Liverpool were keen to bring in another defender, preferably Marc Guehi, but now their plans to add another recruit have only accelerated.Dayot Upamecano has been a name linked a lot recently, but journalist David Lynch has now confirmed the Reds’ interest in another defender from the Bundesliga.Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLiverpool are keeping an eye on Nico SchlotterbeckLiverpool certainly need at least one new defender, but a few would very much come in handy, making the rumours a good sign.Richard Hughes will already be working hard on finding the right people to fit the mould, with extensive research and scouting going on behind the scenes.This is what fans do not see and often do not hear about, but Lynch has confirmed that Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck is a player Liverpool ‘like’ a lot, suggesting it could be the German they move for instead.“There is nothing concrete but Schlotterbeck is definitely liked,” Lynch said on his YouTube channel.“Upamecano I am a little bit sceptical about those links but we shall see.“I’ve never been convinced about Liverpool’s interest in Upamecano, but Schlotterbeck on the other hand is definitely one they do like and have watched.“I think that will be one for the summer, though, rather than January.”The 25-year-old has become a regular at Dortmund since joining in 2022 and has made a big impact on the German national team too.READ MORE: Robbie Savage believes £34m Liverpool player is even better than Kylian MbappeHis manager at international level, Julian Nagelsmann, is a big fan of his too, with the 38-year-old labelling Schlotterbeck as ‘outstanding’.

Liverpool need to try and sign Nico Schlotterbeck in January No matter who Liverpool want to buy, they need to do everything they can to sign them in January as their defensive issue may only worsen as the season progresses.Dortmund know that teams are sniffing around their defender as they are said to be keen to offer him a new deal, with the Black and Yellows seeing him as a future captain.His contract expires in 2027, suggesting that if no progress is made, they could be tempted to cash in on him, with the Reds needing to pounce mid-season.Whether it is Guehi, Upamecano or indeed Schlotterbeck who they go for, one of them simply has to arrive as soon as possible, because if not, Liverpool’s title defence could unravel very quickly.