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New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long has drawn the attention of English Premier League giants Liverpool in an effort to loan out the defender, multiple sources have told ESPN.
Liverpool have been plagued by injuries to their back line with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all sidelined. The Reds are in so much need that midfielder Jordan Henderson has been forced to replace in the center of Liverpool’s defense. Long would provide a short-term depth option to alleviate the Reds’ lack of backline options.
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Manager Jurgen Klopp has made it clear after Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur that he would like to add a new center-back in this month’s transfer window.
“If you have a center-half available at a reasonable price and one with the quality we need, send me a message,” he told BT Sport.
“We thought [about making signings] and we think all the time, but it’s about doing the right thing. We have to find the right player. It’s amazing what’s going on on the defensive line. “
Liverpool did not officially confirm their interest in the defender when approached by ESPN for comment.
The link with Long is part of a context of growing European interest for the international defender of the USMNT. The Washington Post reported that Reading on the English league side wanted to loan Long, while MLSSoccer.com said there was “interest from English and French clubs”.
A league source told ESPN on Thursday that the Red Bulls have yet to receive formal offers for Long. The transfer window in Europe closes Monday evening.
Long, 28 years old, is a late bloomer. He was drafted by the Portland Timbers in 2014, but was released mid-season after being on loan in the USL Championship with Sacramento Republic and the Orange County Blues.
He quickly joined the Seattle Sounders and spent 2015 playing for their reserve team. In 2016, Long was tried with the Red Bulls and was signed to their reserve team, the New York Red Bulls II, and spent the entire 2016 season in the USL.
In 2017, Long made his breakthrough into the Red Bulls’ first team and has been a mainstay ever since, making 120 league, cup and playoff appearances, scoring nine goals. He was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2018, a season in which the Red Bulls won the Supporters Shield, which goes to the team with the most points in the regular season.
Long’s form then caught the attention of US Men’s National Team manager Gregg Berhalter, with Long making 18 appearances for the United States while also scoring three goals. Long is in training camp with the American team and is expected to play in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago this Sunday in Orlando.
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