Jamie Carragher urges Liverpool to sign Virgil Van Dijk replacement at start of January

Photograph: Getty

Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool should sign Dayot Upamecano in January to replace Virgil Van Dijk following his serious knee injury.

The Dutch centre-back suffered ACL damage following a heavy challenge from Jordan Pickford in the draw with Everton on Saturday.

And Carragher believes the Reds must react with urgency and bring forward next summer’s priority in the transfer market of a new centre-back, and ensure he is ready to join Jurgen Klopp’s squad as soon as the January transfer window opens.

“Liverpool's next signing had to be a centre-back next summer anyway,” Carragher said on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports. 

"That was the next one, that has to be brought forward to 1st January - not the end of the month.

RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano could replace Virgil Van Dijk (AFP via Getty Images)

"Upamecano, at Leipzig, there’s talk of him. He's not the profile of Van Dijk. But that's the one Liverpool wanted next summer.

“Bring it forward, pay the extra money and do it on January 1st. That means Liverpool have to get through the next 11 league games without Van Dijk. They have to go big in terms of a signing.”