Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has left the door open to signing more players ahead of the transfer deadline tonight.

Ryan Gravenberch is expected to seal his €40m (£34m) transfer to Anfield, but there have been suggestions that the Reds want a centre-back as well. Klopp played down the prospect of a defender arriving but he didn’t completely rule out further additions:

“It’s deadline day so I don’t want to kill the excitement of the people so you never know. But I’m busy today with other things. If we could bring in a centre-half for a weekend I’d think about it!”

With Virgil van Dijk suspended and Ibrahima Konate out injured, Klopp is not wrong about needing some reinforcements at the back ahead of Sunday’s clash against Aston Villa.

However, from the sound of things, Gravenberch will probably be the only high profile player that will be signed. The Reds have been after him all summer but Bayern Munich were reluctant to let him leave until relenting in the final few days of the transfer window.

Other teams, including Manchester United, have also considered making bids for the Netherlands international but Klopp is said to have persuaded the player that a move to Merseyside would be the right decision at this stage of his career.

Liverpool have actually been linked with another midfielder

Respected journalist Mike McGrath took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday morning to claim that Jurgen Klopp’s side have been scouting Sunderland’s Dan Neil.

There is a possibility that the England Under 20 international could leave the Stadium of Light. However, it seems his likeliest destination could be Burnley. The Clarets have tabled a loan offer, with an obligation to buy. Their opening bid was rejected but they could return with another proposal before the window closes.