Liverpool have reportedly placed emphasis on signing Schalke 04 centre-back Malick Thiaw in the January transfer window.

With Virgil van Dijk likely to miss the entire season due to a knee injury, the Reds manager Jurgen Klopp will consider his options during the midway point of the campaign.

Although Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips have impressed for the Premier League champions over the past week, it remains uncertain whether Klopp is prepared to keep the duo as a backup on a regular basis.

According to Bild, Liverpool may instead look to bring in the Bundesliga prospect Malick Thiaw, who is contracted to Schalke until 2024.

The 19-year-old German has only made seven outings, putting Schalke in a strong position regarding their valuation.