Romano delivers major Liverpool update on €130m duo

Tom Weber

• Updated: 21 Dec 2023 14:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has given an update on Liverpool's pursuit of a new centre-back, revealing that there is interest in two players but that no concrete steps have thus far been taken to sign either.

Liverpool could be in the market for a new central defender in January. Despite Jurgen Klopp's recent assertions that the Reds won't attempt to bring in defensive reinforcements in the winter, the Anfield club will be attentive to the market and try to pounce on any opportunities that may arise.

There is not an urgent need to bring in a new centre-back in light of Jarell Quansah's emergence this season - and given the fact that Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams can be recalled from their loans in Scotland - but Joel Matip's ACL injury does mean that it is something that should be considered. Moreover, the Reds were already looking to add a young, left-footed centre-back in the summer as a potential long-term Virgil van Dijk successor.

Back then, nothing ultimately materialised, but 2024 could be different. Liverpool have been heavily linked with Sporting CP machine Goncalo Inacio and versatile Bayer Leverkusen youngster Piero Hincapie, who appears to be an ideal signing for Klopp's system. Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that both are very much on the Reds' shortlist of 2024 targets.

What did Romano say?

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the transfer expert said: “Liverpool are another club looking at centre-backs but so far no contacts have taken place with Bayer Leverkusen for Piero Hincapie from what I’m told."

"Hincapie has been strongly linked with Liverpool and other top clubs as he’s looked like a superb young talent for some time now, and he’s also not playing as often as he might have expected, so it’s normal to see new stories about the player."

“Liverpool have also been one of a number of teams linked with Goncalo Inacio, but the only way to sign him is to pay his €60 million release clause to Sporting and no one has approached Sporting until now."

"Let’s see if that changes soon, but for now there is nothing advanced for Liverpool with either Hincapie or Inacio.” Hincapie, it must be mentioned, won't come cheap either, as he reportedly boasts a €70m release clause, the same figure Liverpool shelled out on Dominik Szoboszlai in the summer.