Multiple sources are suggesting that Liverpool are set to make a late January swoop to sign Preston North End defender Ben Davies.
The Reds have struggled with defensive injuries this season, with Virgil van Dijk their biggest loss. The Netherlands ace is set to miss the majority of the season while Joe Gomez is also a lengthy absentee.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly stated that he will not bring in a new defender this month. The German has stuck to his guns despite his side’s dip in form and poor run of results.
But it may be that he is relenting, with journalist Pete O’Rourke tweeting that they are keen on Davies. Daily Mail reporter Dominic King has tweeted out a similar line, with a £2m fee mooted for the 25-year-old.
He also suggests that Liverpool youngster Sepp van den Berg will head to Deepdale on loan as part of the deal.
Davies will be out of contract at the end of the season. Glasgow giants Celtic are known admirers and had been trying to get him to sign a pre-contract agreement.
However, with Liverpool now in the picture, their interest may come to nothing.
Davies came up through the Preston youth ranks and made his senior debut in 2013 as a 17-year-old. He struggled to nail down a regular starting berth and was loaned out to several clubs.
The Barrow-in-Furness-born stopper spent time with York, Tranmere, Southport, Newport County and Fleetwood. He managed to establish himself in the North End first team in the 2017-2018 campaign.
The centre-back has now racked up 145 appearances in all competitions for the Lilywhites. He has long been linked with a move away from the Championship club but the Liverpool link has come out of nowhere.
Preston are 11th in the Championship and six points from the play-off picture. They could lose Davies for nothing in the summer and so a fee this month would be welcome.
Van den Berg move makes sense
Van den Berg, 19, has yet to enjoy a senior outing for Liverpool. He made three League Cup appearances in 2019-2020 and played once in the FA Cup.
Having come up through the PEC Zwolle youth ranks, he made his first-team debut aged just 16. After 23 outings he moved to Merseyside in June 2019 and has mainly been featuring for the Under-23s.
A switch to the second-tier club would give him some valuable experience of playing competitive football.
READ MORE: Poland star gives reasons for rejecting Liverpool
The post Liverpool in shock talks for Preston defender as youngster set to depart appeared first on teamtalk.com.
