Exclusive: Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool scouting defensive target as Reds eye '10 or 12' names

Liverpool have been scouting Sven Botman and like him a lot ahead of a potential transfer move, Sky reporter and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has exclusively told Anfield Watch.

The Reds have got a real issue at centre-back at the moment with both Fabinho and Joel Matip picking up recent knocks, whilst Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have obviously both been out for quite some time now.

Indeed, there seems a chance that there'll be a late flurry from the Reds to try and sign a centre-half this month and Romano has confirmed that Botman is a genuine target of the club, though he might still be one for the summer market.

"In terms of Sven Botman, he's a player the Liverpool board likes and appreciates and they are scouting him," Romano began.

"He's been amazing this season for Lille so we are talking about a good player that Liverpool are looking at for the future.

"The Liverpool board are looking at 10 or 12 different centre-backs and they will need to decide who is perfect for the summer.

"But for sure he is a player Liverpool are looking at, as well as Tottenham, but he was never close to joining Liverpool this month because they were not convinced about signing a centre-back in January [before the news about Matip and Fabinho broke] and were waiting to have their meeting in March or April when they decide their summer targets."

ANFIELD WATCH VERDICT

Botman certainly seems the sort of player that Liverpool would go for to boost their defensive options.

He's a good, young defender that is neat on the ball but also has that physical presence so you can understand why the Reds appear to be watching him closely.

Whether we see a late move for him this month seems highly debatable but there is clearly interest in him and so this could be one to watch in the summer market.