Liverpool now want to sign a defender who’s even faster than Luis Diaz

Liverpool have seen their defensive ranks depleted during the 2025/26 season.

After signing in the summer, Giovanni Leoni played just 81 minutes of football for the Reds before being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

In his absence, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and the versatile Joe Gomez are the only centre-back options available to Arne Slot.

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However, now that Conor Bradley is out of action for the rest of the campaign as well, Gomez may be needed to provide support at right-back behind Jeremie Frimpong.

Either way, Liverpool’s backline is depleted, and there is a serious lack of depth right now.

Liverpool interested in Givairo Read

However, the Reds could well go into the market to sign a new defender.

Tobi Altschaffl, speaking to Bild, has now said that Liverpool are interested in Givairo Read.

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He said: “Bayern are in contact with Read’s agency, and as you said, the move is basically planned for the summer.

“In England, however, it could be that some clubs register their interest. Manchester City need players anyway, Liverpool are interested in the player, and at Newcastle there have been new injury concerns – among others, Schär is injured.

“If an English club were to come in now, Bayern have been assured that they would be informed, so that they could already become active regarding Read. Essentially a kind of matching right – more or less a verbally agreed matching right. But the plan remains for the Read deal to happen in the summer.”

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Givairo Read faster than Luis Diaz

Read arrived at current club Feyenoord in July 2023 when Slot was still at the helm.

He was promoted to their senior side a year later and is already a regular starter.

The 19-year-old has made 50 first-team appearances, in which he has scored four and provided 11 assists.

Read has been competing in the Europa League this season, where he has, as per UEFA, posted a top speed of 33.07km/h.

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