Liverpool defender leaves as Arne Slot's transfer deadline day plan emerges

Liverpool have sent Calum Scanlon on loan to Cardiff City, though Arne Slot has devised a strategy to tackle their defensive injury crisis. The Reds are desperately short at the back owing to fitness problems, with Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni all on the treatment table.

Slot was compelled to include several academy prospects on the substitutes' bench for Saturday's 4-1 Premier League triumph over Newcastle. With Frimpong and Bradley unavailable, Dominik Szoboszlai was once more deployed at right-back, alongside Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez in the defensive line.

Liverpool's pursuit of Marc Guehi fell through on deadline day in September, with the Crystal Palace centre-back subsequently moving to Manchester City earlier this month. The shortage of defensive options has been a glaring problem for Liverpool throughout this campaign as injuries have taken their toll.

Despite this, the club have opted to loan Scanlon to Cardiff for the remainder of the season. The 20-year-old full-back has only just recovered from an extended injury absence with Liverpool's Under-21 side and has been sent to the League One pace-setters for match experience, having previously had a temporary spell with Millwall.

He arrived at Liverpool from Birmingham in February 2021 for £550,000 and has managed just two senior appearances to date. Liverpool are eager to secure a new signing before Monday's transfer deadline and are holding discussions to bring in Lutsharel Geertruida on loan.

Geertruida is currently on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig but could make the switch to another Premier League side thanks to Slot's connection.

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Geertruida previously served as a crucial player and vice-captain under Slot at Feyenoord and offers tactical versatility, capable of operating as a right-back, centre-back and in defensive midfield.

Liverpool's pursuit could prove complex, considering that Sunderland paid Leipzig £2million to secure Geertruida for the full 2025/26 season and the arrangement contains no break clause.

Liverpool may consequently need to compensate the Black Cats to complete the transfer. Geertruida has featured in 17 Premier League matches for Sunderland this term but might welcome the opportunity, given his history with Slot.

"I think we are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it," Slot said after the win over Newcastle. "But yeah, 48 hours to go. Let's see where the window ends up."