Ornstein: Liverpool weighing last-minute defensive signing
Liverpool are reportedly exploring a loan move for Lutsharel Geertruida as manager Arne Slot looks to bolster a depleted defense before the transfer deadline. The news came shortly after Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Newcastle, with attention shifting from the scoreline to the team’s defensive shortages.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the 25-year-old Netherlands international, currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig, is the subject of discussions to end that loan early and facilitate a move to Anfield.
Injuries have left Liverpool light across several defensive positions, making Geertruida an appealing option. The Dutchman offers versatility, able to play right-back, centre-back, and as a holding midfielder, areas where Liverpool currently lack depth. Slot knows him well from their time together at Feyenoord, where Geertruida became a tactically reliable player.
Speaking after the Newcastle win, Slot said: “I think we are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it… let’s see when the window ends.”
Statistically, Geertruida has made 17 Premier League appearances for Sunderland this season, averaging 58 minutes per game, contributing two clean sheets, 1.2 tackles per match, and winning over half of his duels. He also completes 86% of his passes, showing reliability rather than flashy output.
Geertruida’s name has been linked to Liverpool before, appearing on a December 2024 list of potential replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold. That framed him as a long-term profile fit rather than a short-term solution. What has changed is the urgency: injuries to Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, and Joe Gomez have left Liverpool thinner than expected.
A loan deal would be financially sensible and strategically smart, adding experience and versatility without a permanent commitment. With Premier League experience under his belt, Geertruida would require minimal adaptation despite the heightened demands at Anfield.
Liverpool currently sit fifth in the table, one point behind Chelsea, and remain in the Champions League race. This potential move appears driven more by necessity than ambition, reflecting Slot’s message that the club intends to strengthen rather than weaken its squad in the final days of the transfer window.