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Liverpool are in the market for a new central defender after Joe Gomez, the young prospect signed from Charlton Athletic last summer, suffered another injury set-back.
Gomez, who is yet to play under Jurgen Klopp after sustaining a cruciate knee injury while on duty with England Under-21s last October, has now picked up an Achilles problem.
Mamadou Sakho suffered the same injury earlier this week and Martin Skrtel has departed for Fenerbahce, leaving Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip as Liverpool’s only fit centre-backs.
Liverpool were not expecting to make more than two further additions this summer, according to the Liverpool Echo, but Klopp will now be forced to search for defensive options.
Piotr Zielinski is one of those two players on the German’s shortlist and, as reported on Thursday, he is apparently in ‘constant contact’ with his prospective new manager.
The Poland international has his heart set on a move to Merseyside but Udinese, his current club, are only listening to offers from Italy.
Liverpool summer transfer targets
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Milan remain favourites to sign Zielinski, who was also the subject of an accepted £9.2million bid from Napoli.
Joe Allen’s future could soon be resolved, with Klopp promising to “find a solution” to the Wales international’s predicament.
Allen is not assured first-team opportunities at Anfield this season and has entered the final year of his contract.
The 26-year-old, who was selected in Uefa’s ‘Team of the Tournament’ at this summer’s European Championships, has now been described as a “good player” by Klopp.
“We have to make decisions, we have to find solutions,” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “We have to talk to the player, ask the player and think about our situation. That’s how it works.”
Jordon Ibe, meanwhile, has completed his £15million move to Bournemouth.
The 20-year-old winger has signed a four-year contract with the south-coast club.
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