January seemed to be a quiet month for the Reds in regards to transfers at first with it unlikely that the club was going to sign a new centre-back despite the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Sadly for the club, those circumstances changed after our one and only remaining senior centre-back in Joel Matip picked up a season-ending injury too, which led the club to sign two new defenders on Deadline Day in the form of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak.
Davies joined on a permanent deal whilst Kabak signed on an initial six-month loan with an option to buy at the end of the season giving him a great opportunity to convince the club to sign him in the summer – but according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the signing of Kabak doesn’t affect the club’s interest in RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano, who has been a major target for the club over the past few months…
🔴 Doesn't affect Upamecano interest
🔴 Wouldn't have happened if Matip/Fabinho stayed fit
🔴 'Cleverness' of both signings@David_Ornstein was joined by @Simon_Hughes__ this week to discuss #LFC's chaotic deadline day…WATCH NOW 🎥 𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗜𝗡
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) February 4, 2021
What this means for Kabak’s future is unknown – I’m sure if the Turkish international can prove himself to the Liverpool staff and Jurgen Klopp that he is worthy of a permanent transfer during this period then the club will keep him on a permanent deal but if the Reds’ interest in Upamecano is still firm then that wouldn’t make much sense.
As we know, Van Dijk, Gomez, and Matip will be back fit at the end of the season, and with the new addition of Ben Davies already on a permanent deal, bringing in Kabak AND trying to sign Upamecano as well would leave the Reds with six centre-backs which just wouldn’t make any sense.
Did Liverpool have a successful January window?
Yes
No
I personally think that if the interest in Upamecano still stands and the Reds manage to secure his signature – a future at the club for Kabak will be all but in the dust.
What do you think Liverpool fans, will the club sign both centre-backs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below…