Liverpool's stance on signing Chelsea star in January after he suffered devastating blow

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Despite suffering a serious knee injury in August, Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has been linked with a move to Liverpool, with the Reds considering a move for another centre-back in JanuaryLiverpool are considering whether to sign another centre-back during the January transfer window. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Giovanni Leoni has undergone surgery on an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury and is now expected to miss at least the remainder of the season.Talented defender Leoni, 18, was signed from Parma in August to add more strength and depth to Liverpool's backline alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.

However, just 81 minutes into his Reds debut against Southampton last month, Leoni went down following an awkward challenge.After treatment from the medical staff, Leoni was stretchered off and Slot admitted post-match that it didn't look good for the teenage centre-back.READ MORE: Arne Slot speaks out on Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah Liverpool form - 'So much focus'READ MORE: Chelsea handed huge boost for Liverpool clash as Arne Slot confirms injury blowIt was later confirmed that Leoni had indeed torn his ACL, with Slot claiming in his pre-Crystal Palace press conference last Friday that he could be out for around 12 months.With Van Dijk, Konate and Gomez considered as Liverpool's only three fit senior central defenders, there has been talk that the Reds could dip into the transfer market to either bring in a free agent or sign someone in January.Now, talkSPORT has reported that internal discussions are currently taking place as to whether another centre-back is needed in the winter transfer window.It's added that Marc Guehi, who was close to joining the Reds in a £35million deal in the summer, is open to seeing out the rest of the season at Crystal Palace, playing at the World Cup with England and then picking his next club as a free transfer.Chelsea's Levi Colwill is a long-term target and remains appreciated, but it is said Liverpool don't believe that he is available and have never made a bid as a result.Colwill hasn't featured since August due to an ACL injury, however.Liverpool also continue to work on a contract extension for Konate, who has less than nine months remaining on his current deal.The Reds made their last formal offer before the summer window slammed shut. Real Madrid remain keen and are available to negotiate a pre-contract agreement from January.The Reds would prefer if Konate can extend before the end of the year, but as they showed with Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk, talks can be extended for as long as needed to secure the right deal all-around.As well as Colwill and Guehi, Sven Botman, Willian Pacho, Zeno Debast and Ousmane Diomande are among the others that Liverpool are tracking and scored high in the club's data driven approach.Newcastle don't want or plan to sell Botman, while Pacho is contracted at PSG until 2029.

Sporting duo Debast and Diomande have been linked with a move to the Premier League in the past.For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.Follow us on Twitter @‌LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.And sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.