Shokdran Mustafi is Liverpool’s cheap option and has similar traits to Matip

Liverpool could reportedly still sign Shkodran Mustafi this transfer window, with the Arsenal defender likened to Joel Matip.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wants a new defender following injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.

Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have both had to fill in in the back-line with Klopp also using youngsters.

Matip has also struggled with injuries this season, leading to thoughts that the Premier League champions could make a late effort to sign a new defender.

And The Athletic say that Mustafi is a potential option with the German having played just 45 minutes of Premier League football this season.

It’s reported that Mustafi could be a cheap option with the Gunners set to lose the former Valencia star on a free in the summer.

The Athletic add that Mustafi likes to bring the ball out from the back, as Matip also favours.

On his hunt for a new defender, Klopp has said: “You know the situation with centre-halves out there. You know the clubs where the centre-halves are playing because everyone is talking about them.

“Tell me if one of these clubs needs the money and needs to sell a player? And if they need money, then they want crazy money.

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“I am not sure there is an £80million centre-back available at the moment and a club thinks ‘We can get £80m for him so we will sell him’.

“I don’t think that’s the case. Actually, pretty much I know. This calibre of player the teams would not sell them now.

“We need to find the right player and one which suits our financial situation, that’s clear as well.

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“We lost probably two of the best centre-halves in the whole market (Van Dijk and Gomez) in a period of six to seven weeks. For the whole season. That’s massive.

“Then you have to find solutions in that moment. The winter transfer market opens and everyone says ‘Now you can do something’. We try.

“We see the situation. We don’t close our eyes. But while we are doing that we have to find solutions and play football and that is what we do.”

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