[ad_pod ]Jurgen Klopp may have rubbished the suggestion that injuries will cause a panic-buying spree in the January window, but it should tempt the German to sign another centre-back and Mats Hummels is the answer.
What’s the word?
TalkSPORT pushed the Reds boss to see if Klopp would look to the market to strengthen his side, noting the injury Dejan Lovren sustained in Liverpool’s shock FA Cup defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Croat lasted five minutes at Molineux before he limped off, leaving 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever to make his debut alongside Fabinho in a makeshift partnership.
Klopp is already without the services of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, and if the German head coach opts not to strengthen he would risk throwing Liverpool’s best shot at a first Premier League title away.
It was clear in the FA Cup that Fabinho will not offer a top-class substitute in the heart of defence alongside Virgil van Dijk, so the 51-year-old from Stuttgart should look to a 30-year-old from Bergisch Gladbach as the answer, that being 6ft 4in colossus Hummels.
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Could it happen?
It would be a difficult move for Klopp to pull off, especially on a permanent basis, but the German is not featuring regularly for Bayern Munich under Niko Kovac so a loan deal may solve everyone’s problems.
Hummels and Klopp worked wonders together while at Borussia Dortmund, clinching two Bundesliga titles and the DFB Pokal, before parting ways in 2015 when the boss left for pastures new – ultimately ending up at Anfield.
The BVB captain stuck around at the Westfalenstadion for an extra year before joining rivals Bayern Munich, but has recorded just eight league starts this season – featuring a further four times in the Champions League and once in the DFB Pokal.
Instead, Kovac has relied on the future of Bayern’s defence Niklas Sule and former Manchester City flop Jerome Boateng, leaving Hummels in an unusual situation as a backup.
The £36million-rated ace would prove the difference onÂMerseyside between a title going begging for Liverpool and a 19th top-tier trophy, with the 70-cap international the ideal ball-playing centre-back.
Hummels and Klopp also continue to share a special relationship, highlighted when the 30-year-old Tweeted in his direction upon their respective clubs drawing each other in the Champions League.
