Liverpool linked with shock Shkodran Mustafi move to solve defensive injury crisis

Mustafi could be a short-term fix to Liverpool's defensive injury crisis

Liverpool, you might have heard, could do with a defender. Maybe a couple of defenders. Long-term injuries to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez - following the summer departure of Dejan Lovren - left the Premier League champions a little light at the back before their title defence had even really got going. This hasn't been helped by more injury troubles with Joel Matip and makeshift centre half Fabinho. With a matter of days remaining of the January transfer window, the rumours that Jurgen Klopp might get one signing through the door to bolster his depleted defensive ranks refuse to die down. Days on from reportedly making contact with Sokratis, who has since joined Olympiacos, it's now being reported that Liverpool could make a move for his former Arsenal teammate, Shkodran Mustafi. [caption id="attachment_76032" align="aligncenter" width="4645"] Shkoran Mustafi, pictured here with Per Mertesacker, Ron-Robert Zieler, Shkodran Mustafi, Roman Weidenfeller, Mats Hummels and Bastian Schweinsteiger, was a Wordld Cup winner in 2014. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)[/caption] The German international's playing time has been limited under Mikel Arteta and, with six months to run on his contract, has already been linked with a free transfer to Barcelona at the end of the season. According to The Telegraph, Liverpool have not ruled out the idea of a move for the German, who would be a viewed as a short-term fix to their problems at the back. While the same report also adds that his contract is due to expire in the summer, it also states that he is believe to be in discussions with Arsenal about a possible early release from his deal. Klopp is thought to prefer bringing in a signing for the longer term, but the viability of that in the current climate remains to be seen. Desperate times...

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