Liverpool are allegedly planning to recruit West Ham midfielder Nayef Aguerd in the January transfer window, believing they can beat Manchester City to his signature by releasing a popular long-serving player.

After saying goodbye to six players at the conclusion of last season, the Reds spent the summer reconstructing their midfield. While the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the unproductive Arthur Melo were long anticipated, the sales of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were unexpected.

That left Liverpool in a frantic need for reinforcements, with Jurgen Klopp eventually making four signings – the latest of which, Ryan Gravenberch, came on deadline day – to shore up his engine room.

The Dutch international will be aiming to make his Liverpool debut against Wolves on Saturday, with Klopp now forced to work out how to fit him with other newcomers Dominik Szoboszlai, Alex Mac Allister, and Waturu Endo.

It’s a wonderful issue to have, and Liverpool now has lots of new faces to choose from in their midfield against troublesome Wolves.

However, it is easy to forget that Klopp went into the summer window hoping to enhance his defense as well. Indeed, the Reds manager was looking for a new center-half and a new right-back. And it wasn’t until Fabinho and Henderson left that Klopp’s attention was drawn to his midfield.

According to The Sun, Klopp will reconsider his desire to bolster his defense in January. And they believe he wants to sign highly-rated West Ham centre-back Aguerd when the transfer market reopens in 112 days.

Liverpool will face competition from Manchester City for Nayef Aguerd.

The Moroccan international just arrived to the London Stadium in the summer of 2022, but he has already established himself as one of David Moyes’ first-choice picks.

Indeed, the 27-year-old has made 33 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions, scoring three times, but is only now beginning to justify the £30 million cost paid by West Ham to Rennes for his services.

However, with suggestions that Manchester City has also added Aguerd to its list of goals, Liverpool is considering an offer.

The Hammers, on the other hand, will not let go of Aguerd cheaply and will hope to double their money on a player who is now reaching peak form.

However, the article believes Klopp would focus his next efforts on restoring his defensive unit. Joel Matip, a seven-season veteran, is already 32 and has perhaps let his standards slip in recent years.

His teammate Virgil van Dijk is the same age as his, and there are indicators that he is no longer the intimidating force he once was.

However, with Matip’s contract ending next summer and the former Cameroon international no longer first choice, Aguerd would take his position.

Aguerd is expected to take over for Matip at Liverpool.

To that aim, Liverpool are said to be open to bids for the former Schalke player, who might spend the rest of his career in the Bundesliga.

Any deal for Aguerd, who was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia over the summer, would result in Van Dijk changing positions. The addition of the left-footed Moroccan would allow Van Dijk to possibly revert to the right side of the central defensive line, where he is frequently used.

As a result, the 30-year-old Moroccan international will undoubtedly become Klopp’s main target in January, with a sizable bid likely to give West Ham something to think about. And an instant route into the Liverpool first team might give them an advantage against City, who paid a lot of money to recruit Josko Gvardiol there over the summer.