Liverpool ‘make contact with ex-Arsenal defender Sokratis’ as they fight for defensive cover

Liverpool have contacted former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos as they step up their search for defensive reinforcements, according to reports.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been ravaged by injury this season – particularly in defense – with main center-back Virgil van Dijk a long-time absent while Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have also been out for some time. This forced the German to field midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho at the back and is having an impact on the club’s form.

Young Rhys Williams also trusted the heart of the defense, but failed to impress in Liverpool’s 3-2 FA Cup loss to Man United, leading the club to enter the market for a new recruit to help the Reds out of their slump.

Liverpool have reportedly made contact with former Arsenal defender Sokratis, who played under Jurgen Klopp (R) at Dortmund

Liverpool, who haven’t won any of their last five league games, were due to have Matip back for the game against United, but the Cameroonian hasn’t even made the squad as he continues to be slowly reinstated on the team.

Klopp had previously made no secret of his desire for a new defender and the club have now acted by making first contact with Greece international Sokratis, as Athletic report. The 32-year-old is a free agent after terminating his contract with Arsenal by mutual consent last week.

Sokratis, a very experienced player with 463 club appearances and 90 caps for his country, had six months to go on his contract but had been left isolated by manager Mikel Arteta, having not played since August.

He has known Klopp well from their time together at Dortmund – the German signed him for the Bundesliga club in 2013 and had a close relationship for two seasons before the boss left for Liverpool.

Sokratis formed a relationship with Klopp in Germany and performed under him for two years

Liverpool were forced to field midfielder Fabinho in defense after his injury crisis

However, the report claims Liverpool have only checked their situation for the time being and are not yet in formal talks – with the player likely to tie up with Olympiakos in his native Greece.

Sokratis is known for his fiery nature and Klopp once joked that he wasn’t sure the player ‘wanted to kill him’, a comment the defender laughed at after talking about his former boss in 2019. .

“I took what Jurgen said as a compliment, of course. I had a good relationship with him, having played for him in Dortmund. He was very good to me.

The Greek defender would have no trouble adjusting to Klopp’s style of play at Liverpool

He started his career with AEK Athens before his towering exhibitions at the rear started to catch the attention of Italy. Genoa stopped him in 2008 before winning a big transfer to AC Milan two years later.

He struggled to fit in at Rossonneri and was loaned to Werder Bremen – eventually making the move permanent and later joining Klopp in Dortmund, where he would become a mainstay and make nearly 200 appearances for the club.

In 2018 he signed for the Gunners in a deal worth around £ 17million but suffered a period of ups and downs in north London. He was singled out for a few costly mistakes, even after making 40 appearances in his debut season and joined players like Mesut Ozil and William Saliba to be chased by Arteta in this campaign.