£17m will seal deal for defender Liverpool missed out on in January

Finding experienced, high-quality cover at centre-back and at right-back won’t be easy but the Premier League champions could opt to move for another target they failed to land in January.

Geertruida back on the menu

Lutsharel Geertruida - who captained Feyenoord during Arne Slot’s time in charge - moved to Sunderland on loan from RB Leipzig last summer.

The Reds tried to free him up from that loan in the winter and bring him to Anfield instead but for many reasons the deal was considered a non-starter.

But BILD is now writing that the Netherlands international could be available for only €20m (£17m) this summer - a bargain for a player of his stature.

If Sunderland don’t take up their option to sign the 25-year-old permanently then Richard Hughes may well strike an opportunistic deal for the versatile performer.

RB Leipzig clear-out incoming

“Also Lutsharel Geertruida (25/Sunderland), whom the Premier League club can sign permanently for around 20 million euros and in whom Liverpool showed interest in the winter,” the report reads.

Geertruida is expected to be among the exodus of RB Leipzig players this summer as they seek €100m in sales according to the report.

Liverpool-linked Castello Lukeba will depart from the defence while Arthur Vermeeren and Eljif Elmas could also go.

It remains to be seen what will be done over top trump Yan Diomande - whose one sale could wipe out Leipzig’s money worries at a stroke. They are however resolved to keep the Ivorian talent for one more season.