Liverpool Transfer News: Reds seek CL defender amid Bradley injury – report

Liverpool have been exploring options to replace the injured Conor Bradley, and have reportedly identified a potential January recruit.

The Reds spent a lot of money in the summer following their Premier League triumph, but their poor start to the season may well prompt Arne Slot into action during this month’s transfer window.

Alexander Isak has not had the start at Anfield he was hoping for, and now out with a broken leg, Slot must decide whether to bank on Hugo Ekitike staying fit or bringing in assistance before the deadline on 2nd February.

Another issue that has recently surfaced for the Dutchman regards defender Conor Bradley, who was stretchered off during the 0-0 draw at Arsenal last week.

With Bradley expected to be out for an extended period following his knee injury, which required surgery, Liverpool have been linked with various defensive options.

On the flip-side, there has been talk that Slot will ignore the temptation to bring players in for the short term, but a recent report has claimed this might not be the case.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have explored the possibility of signing Brazilian full-back Vanderson from Champions League rivals Monaco.

He is also thought to be open to a Premier League move, while a January switch could be feasible.

Liverpool’s interest in Vanderson is well earned, as he could provide an option down the Reds’ right side as well as simply in defence.

Following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai has occasionally chipped in at right-back, with Bradley starting to make the role his own during Jeremie Frimpong’s injury lay-off.

But with Szoboszlai clearly preferred in the attacking third, it could be argued that a different option in that position is required anyway, particularly with the likes of Joe Gomez and Frimpong unreliable in terms of fitness.

With Bradley out for the foreseeable, you would not blame Slot for assessing his options at the very least.

And from a defensive point of view, Vanderson could in fact be a very shrewd signing indeed.

According to analytics website FBref, Vanderson places in the 91st percentile for tackles (2.8 per 90), and in the 98th percentile for interceptions (1.78), among players in the top five European leagues, Champions League and Europa League over the past year.

In comparison, Bradley is nowhere near, with 1.79 tackles and 0.82 interceptions per 90, while Frimpong remarkably ranks in the 2nd percentile on each metric – quite surprisingly for such an accomplished defender.

And given Liverpool’s inconsistent results this term, making themselves more difficult to beat is perhaps nearer the top of Slot’s list of priorities at present.

Therefore, it should be no surprise that a defender with Vanderson’s profile has garnered such interest.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.