Flashscore sources: Liverpool facing defensive dilemma as transfer window enters key phase

[p]While the club's public stance has remained one of patience - suggesting there will be no rush into late-window deals - the picture behind the scenes appears to be evolving.[/p][p][b]Defensive reinforcements are increasingly under consideration, with another centre-back emerging as a growing area of focus alongside a move for attacker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Bradley Barcola[/a]. The situation remains finely balanced, but if the right opportunity presents itself, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] could yet be persuaded to act.[/b][/p][p]The dilemma comes at a time when supporters have begun to question the squad's defensive depth, following Saturday's 4-2 friendly defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/leeds/tUxUbLR2/"]Leeds United[/a].[/p][p]Pre-season results rarely tell the full story, but the availability of defenders has become an increasingly important issue and only adds to the concern. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] is yet to return to action, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gomez-joe/SKt9dxk8/"]Joe Gomez[/a] remains sidelined through injury, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bradley-conor/GM6fgd0p/"]Conor Bradley[/a] is not expected to be fit for the start of the campaign, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/frimpong-jeremie/SjJ6pCvC/"]Jeremie Frimpong[/a] also picked up a knock at the weekend. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jacquet-jeremy/h0WK6DL4/"]Jeremy Jacquet[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leoni-giovanni/GdON0JjJ/"]Giovanni Leoni[/a] have both been absent too, with no clear indication when either could return. [/p][embed guid="b434f950-8cbb-4fe3-998a-87d5ad4c7875" url="https://x.com/KayLFC05_/status/2083245389461741719" social-type="twitter" /][p]With those concerns in mind, Liverpool are somewhat open-minded about the possibility of finding a player capable of providing quality and versatility across both centre-back and right-back.[/p][p]The club's pursuit of Barcola has dominated headlines in recent weeks, but even if that deal progresses, many supporters feel defensive reinforcements have become the more pressing need.[/p][p]Liverpool already possess significant attacking depth, whereas the back line is being stretched ahead of a season they need to start well.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konsa-ezri/4CQLQWTa/"]Ezri Konsa[/a] has emerged as one potential defensive option from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a], while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zabarnyi-illia/8SehvaqF/"]Illia Zabarnyi[/a] has also been mentioned. [/b][/p][p]Liverpool held a strong interest in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-de-ven-micky/rotN6HH8/"]Micky van de Ven[/a] earlier in the summer, although that avenue now appears closed, with the Dutch defender expected to remain at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] as the club begins a new era under its incoming manager and prepares for the likely departure of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Cristian Romero[/a].[/p][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ac-milan/8Sa8HInO/"]AC Milan[/a] defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tomori-fikayo/AZn3ZNeI/"]Fikayo Tomori[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rayo-vallecano/8bcjFy6O/"]Rayo Vallecano[/a] right-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ratiu-andrei/Eo8SAMoI/"]Andrei Ratiu[/a] have both been credited with attracting Liverpool's attention.[/p][image alt="Konsa career stats" id="a104d832-2a9b-44d5-9c2c-6aff9b0a1f0f" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="11b6308a-c986-4087-bbac-1c9c4118de8a" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]At this stage, the underlying message from sources is that Liverpool are genuinely working to consider their defensive options before the season begins.[/p][p]For many supporters, that will be an encouraging development. While speculation continues around potential departures involving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mac-allister-alexis/fDPhMB8M/"]Alexis Mac Allister[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a] to Tottenham and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jones-curtis/OnQz9w8h/"]Curtis Jones[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter/Iw7eKK25/"]Inter Milan[/a], the greater urgency among the fanbase is on who Liverpool can bring in -  rather than who might leave.[/p][infobox id="f961102e-920a-4281-b5f2-f996852544cf" /]