Liverpool were offered the chance of signing Arsenal centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, according to the Guardian‘s Fabrizio Romano.

The 32-year-old, who has 90 caps for Greece, is available this month with his contract having just six months left to run, but Romano says the Reds turned down the opportunity to sign the defender:

“Liverpool were looking for an opportunity and he was offered to Liverpool, but at the moment he’s not an option. Yes, also he could be an opportunity, he was an opportunity because he was offered, but at the moment Liverpool have not decided whether they’re signing a centre-back or not, they’re still in the middle of the situation, so nothing has been decided.”

Sokratis is thought to be weighing up potential moves to Serie A side Genoa and Turkish club Fenerbahce instead, and it is not a surprise that Liverpool have rejected the chance to sign him, despite the Merseyside club’s defensive crisis.

While the Greek international is an experienced player, he has struggled when asked to play out from the back by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his playing style would also be incompatible with what Jurgen Klopp would require.

The German has managed Sokratis before, for two years at Dortmund, but it seems he has opted against signing one of his former players.