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Why has action become such an urgent necessity?
Liverpool entered the summer transfer market with the aim of building the future of the defensive line, but events quickly showed that the crisis is no longer about tomorrow, but about the present. Injuries, the departure of some key players and the unpreparedness of the newcomers have presented coach Andoni Iraola with a major challenge and made the signing of an experienced centre-back an option that could not be put off.
During the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar last November, the two defenders caught the attention of Liverpool’s scouting department and the club decided to move quickly to finalize their signing.
The Reds spent a total of £3.5m in weeks to include Senegalese Moure Talla Ndiaye and Austrian Efiania Ndukue.
The move was made under the supervision of Matt Newbury, Liverpool’s director of global talent, as part of a long-term plan to secure the club’s future at centre-back.
But nobody inside the club would have expected these two young defenders to lead the first-team defense for the majority of the opening pre-season match.
Gomez’s injury reveals the extent of the crisis
Joe Gomez was injured and forced off the Sunderland match after just eight minutes, while Jeremy Jacque and Giovani Leoni were unavailable, clearly exposing the team’s numerical deficiencies at the heart of the defence.
While investing in young talent is an important pillar of the club’s future, the team’s current needs require immediate solutions.
Even before Gomez’s injury, new coach Andoni Iraola admitted that his team was suffering from a “serious numerical deficiency” in the back line.
Gomez missed Liverpool’s training session in Chicago on Sunday and is expected to be informed by the club this week on the nature and severity of the injury.
Joe Gomez is currently the oldest player in the squad, but his career at Liverpool has been heavily affected by injuries.
According to Transfermarkt, the England defender has missed 225 games since joining Liverpool from Charlton in 2015, a number that reflects the extent of his struggles in recent years.
Van Dijk is fighting alone
At the moment, Virgil van Dijk is the only physically fit central defender in the main team.
Although the Liverpool captain is 35 years old and played every minute of the Premier League games last season, he no longer offers the same physical levels that distinguished him in his golden years.
Van Dijk’s contract, like Gomez’s, is entering its final year at Anfield, opening the door for the pair to leave at the end of next season.
Liverpool officials believe 21-year-old Jeremy Jacque and 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni represent the club’s future in this role.
That’s why the club didn’t stand in the way of Ibrahima Konate leaving on a free transfer to Real Madrid, splashing out £60m to sign Jacquet and £26m to bring in Leoni, as they are some of the most popular defensive talents in France and Italy.
Jacque is expected to play his first game for Liverpool on Sunday against Leeds United, while the club will give the pair plenty of time to develop and reach their full potential.
However, the current reality shows that they, like Ndiaye and Nduuke, are still at the beginning of their careers and need more time and experience.
Complex calculations in the transfer market
In statements to the network.BBC SportFrom New York City, where Liverpool are set to face Wrexham, club legend Robbie Fowler confirmed that the team are in urgent need of defensive reinforcements.
“We need players, that’s quite clear. I feel so sad for Joe Gomez. He has suffered a lot with injuries and this was a real opportunity for him to prove that the team does not need to sign a new centre-back.”
He continued. “We spent a lot of money to sign Jacque and Leoni, but having experienced players like Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk alongside them would be an important factor in their development.”
He concluded his speech by saying: “At the moment we won’t see the best of these young players so the team needs experience and the manager himself has publicly stated the need for players and I wouldn’t be surprised if signing a new centre-back is one of the club’s priorities.”
Liverpool’s omission of Marc Guehi last summer has become more questionable in light of the current crisis.
The club have a buy-out clause for Jarel Quansah, who moved to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are currently no plans to bring him back.
Sources close to the club confirm that the potential signing of Bradley Barcola, for whom PSG are demanding more than £100m to sell, will limit Liverpool’s ability to make additional deals during the Mercato.
The contract value of Jaque and Victor Munoz was also £94.5m and in the absence of major sales this summer the club will not repeat the record spending of £450m last summer.
A promising future…and a demanding present
Robbie Fowler, who scored 183 goals for “Liverpool”, emphasized that having a balanced team is one of the secrets of success.
“When you look at Liverpool over the last decade, the starting line-up has been very strong, but the debate has always been about the depth of the substitutes’ list. I strongly believe in the importance of building a balanced squad as it keeps the competitive spirit in the team and makes each player aware that his place is not guaranteed.”
He quotes club legend Phil Neil as saying: “Back then, the players were afraid of getting injured because they knew that their replacement might not give them a chance to come back. This mindset is necessary and it has a direct impact on raising the performance standards of the team.”
Between last summer and January 2026, Liverpool signed five centre-backs who were all under 20 at the time: Giovanni Leone, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ifeanya Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jeremy Jacque.
Nduuke is expected to be out on loan this season as he has yet to meet the requirements for a UK work permit despite his impressive display against Sunderland.
Liverpool’s management are not worried about the centre-back’s future in the long term, but the current reality confirms that the squad suffers from a clear lack of experience, a gap that requires urgent intervention if the Reds are to compete strongly in the new season.
