Liverpool have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of a new defender, as Sevilla's financial troubles could heighten the chances of them signing Loic Bade.
Arne Slot's side sit top of the Premier League after seven games, conceding just two goals, but there is not much depth in the centre-back area at the club.
The fact that Virgil van Dijk's contract expires at the end of the season could also force Liverpool to act in the transfer market, with the 33-year-old's future at Anfield still up in the air.
Bade was already a regular at Sevilla, but came to prominence at the Olympics over the summer, helping France to a silver medal on home soil.
Despite increasing interest, Bade signed a contract extension until 2029 with the Andalucian club, but his surging value is making the prospect of selling more attractive to Sevilla, who are struggling in the bottom half of La Liga once again.
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Liverpool to sign Bade as early as January?
Reports last month suggested that Liverpool were not planning to make a move for Bade in 2025, however, new information has come to light which contradicts that.
TodoFichajes claim that, if all goes to plan, Bade could move to Liverpool as early as January, as long as Sevilla's valuation is met.
The report states that a fee of €25m will be enough to get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old, who rejected moves to Stuttgart and Roma over the summer.
Bade has been called up to the French national side twice by Didier Deschamps since his Olympic performances, but injury has prevented him from making his debut to this point.
One potential key bit of information is that MundoDeportivo believe that Bade is one of the options the Premier League club have identified to replace Van Dijk, rather than to play alongside him.
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Liverpool's centre-back conundrum
If Van Dijk and Liverpool do not come to an agreement on a new contract, it will leave the Reds short on options heading into next season.
Ibrahima Konate has been the preferred choice alongside Van Dijk, after replacing Jarell Quansah at half time in the season opener, but he has suffered multiple injury setbacks in his time with the club.
Quansah has not had the best time of it when on the field this season, as he struggled in that opening 45 minutes against Ipswich Town, before scoring an own goal on his only other start of the campaign, in the EFL Cup win over West Ham United.
Slot is evidently not much of a fan of Joe Gomez either, as the man so often utilised under Jurgen Klopp has played just two minutes of league action so far.
That makes a move in January most suitable for Liverpool to look ahead to next season, but it would be a rather big indicator that Van Dijk is set to depart.
Andrew Delaney
