Liverpool ‘set to make Kalidou Koulibaly transfer move in January’ with Jurgen Klopp facing defensive injury crisis

LIVERPOOL are reportedly lining up a January move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly to solve their defensive crisis.

The Reds have re-ignited their interest in Koulilaby, 29, who they were heavily linked with in the summer, according to calciomercato.com.

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Koulilaby is reportedly seen as the answer to Liverpool’s defensive troubles[/caption]

The Premier League champions were said to be in ‘pole position’ to sign him and planned to offer Dejan Lovren as part of the deal.

His fellow countryman and Reds winger Sadio Mane was also keen for him to join the club.

Mane, 28, said: “I would be very happy to play alongside him at club level, as I have known him for years.

“No club could refuse the chance to have Koulibaly in their squad.

“In any event, it would be a pleasure for me to play for Liverpool together with him.”

But Koulibaly poured cold water on the rumours and said that he was happy at Napoli.

Speaking to Gazetta Dello Sport he said: “I never spoke to Napoli about leaving. If we have to find a solution, we will find it, but I have never talked about the transfer market.

“But I only want to think about playing, I am 100 per cent [committed to] Napoli and it bothers me to be linked, every day, to this or that European club.”

Jurgen Klopp is eager to buy a new defender to fill the gaps left by crocked pair Virgil Van Dijk and Fabinho.

Van Dijk is likely to be out for the rest of the season after a horror tackle by Everton’s Jordan Pickford.

Fabinho was drafted in as a make-shift replacement for him, but was also injured in the side’s 2-0 win over Midtjylland in the Champions League.

If the Reds don’t manage to secure the services of Koulibaly, it has been reported that they have lined up Schalke’s Ozan Kabak as a potential alternative.