---
title: "Journalist claims Klopp ‘rates’ Kalidou Koulibaly ahead of potential January move"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/journalist-claims-klopp-rates-koulibaly-ahead-of-potential-january-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2020-11-14T08:00:04Z"
modified: "2020-11-14T08:00:04Z"
---

# Journalist claims Klopp ‘rates’ Kalidou Koulibaly ahead of potential January move

Jurgen Klopp ‘rates’ [Kalidou Koulibaly](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/31/koulibaly-remains-coy-on-future-amid-liverpool-links/) as a player, according to *[The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-news-january-klopp-23001258?_ga=2.100438555.429701492.1604861448-2066388652.1603745733)*‘s David Maddock, suggesting a January move to Liverpool could potentially be on the cards.

The Reds are facing an unprecedented injury crisis at the moment, with centre-back duo [Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12108544/joe-gomez-and-virgil-van-dijk-who-are-the-young-liverpool-players-to-cover-injured-duo) both ruled out for many months, and possibly the rest of the season. It means the need for a new signing in January is urgent, allowing Klopp to have more options during the second half of the campaign.

Maddock claims Klopp is a big admirer of Koulibaly, also stating the close relationship the 29-year-old has with Sadio Mane because of their Senegalese roots.

Liverpool have been [linked](https://www.areanapoli.it/calciomercato/santini-boom-liverpool-offerti-75-milioni-per-koulibaly-colpo-a-sorpresa-per-gattuso_392587.html)with the Napoli star in the past, but nothing has come to fruition yet for a player hailed as “[extraordinary](https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/reina-praises-extraordinary-manchester-united-target/2wytf3dbju351r5hbkaktk1ld)” by former team-mate and one-time Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

Koulibaly is a fantastic player – one of the [best centre-backs in the world](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/22/liverpool-reportedly-offer-e70m-to-sign-koulibaly-in-january/), in fact – but I think the Reds should look at more long-term options.

The Senegalese turns 30 next year, so spending huge money on him could be a risk, considering he wouldn’t necessarily represent a long-term acquisition.

Someone like [Dayot Upamecano](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/10/29/liverpool-fans-unimpressed-with-upamecanos-display-against-man-united/) or [Ozan Kabak](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/11/10/liverpool-seriously-thinking-about-making-january-move-for-kabak/) would be younger, more suitable alternatives in that respect, so it makes sense for Liverpool to go down that path instead.