Winter cull of youngsters could see Klopp dip into Liverpool coffers

Liverpool Under-23s may lose six players during the January transfer window, according to reports.

Barry Lewtas’ youngsters have enjoyed an excellent start to their Premier League 2 campaign. They are just a single point behind table-topping Derby Country, with many talented stars in the ranks.

However, the Liverpool Echo are reporting that things could be tougher in the new year if the team is decimated. Many players have been linked with a winter exit, and Lewtas will hope he can keep his squad together.

Yasser Larouci, Caoimhin Kelleher and Liam Millar look vulnerable having flirted with departing already. Larouci, 19, appeared set to leave in the summer while goalkeeper Kelleher has been linked with a loan move.

Canada international Miller has also attracted interest in the loan market. Capped eight times by the North Americans, the 21-year-old forward might be on his way early next year.

Midfielder Abdi Sharif, 19, may seek a loan move in the winter window. Having missed a large part of the previous season due to an anterior cruciate injury, he is after game time.

Sepp van den Berg made four first-team appearances last term but remains with the Under-23s.

Jurgen Klopp could sign a defender in January to cover for the loss of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. That suggests the former PEC Zwolle starlet may not be in the German’s plans and a loan move beckons.

The Reds will also need to make a decision on the future of Joe Hardy. The 22-year-old moved to Anfield from Brentford in January this year. Having come through the Manchester City ranks, he is rated highly but did not pen a new deal last summer.

Scouts will doubtless be in attendance at the remaining four Under-23 games before the window opens. There is plenty of talent on view and expect a few to depart for the second half of the campaign.

Van Dijk may be back for ‘big games’

Although the young talent at Liverpool is without question, Klopp knows how important Van Dijk is to his cause. It is touch and go as to whether he will play again in 2020-2021 but a Liverpool legend appears confident.

Michael Owen, who scored 118 top-flight goals for the club, has backed him to return at the business end.

He told talkSPORT: “He’s a huge miss, but hey, who’s to say he won’t be back for those big games at the end of the season?

“A cruciate ligament injury is sort of five to six months if everything goes perfectly. So you never know. It’s a huge blow.”

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