Liverpool make contact with David Alaba's agent but wages block a deal

Liverpool have made contact with David Alaba's agent, according to Anfield Central sources, but his wage demands are a major obstacle in a potential deal.

Serious knee injuries have ruled Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out for most of this season which has led to Liverpool investigating signing a centre back this year.

Given Alaba's contract standoff with Bayern Munich, the Austrian is of interest to the Reds but his £230,000/week wage demands make a move to Liverpool virtually impossible.

Liverpool have been in contact with Alaba's agent, Pini Zahavi, to sound out a summer move to Anfield but were told that the Bayern Munich defender has his heart set on a switch to the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid and Alaba are understood to be on the same page but are still some way away from agreeing on personal terms.

Klopp wants a centre-back in this month but understands the challenges posed by shopping in the winter transfer market. Clubs are ready to hold out on high fees and Liverpool are not willing to be bullied into spending an exorbitant amount of money on a player that will be backup once van Dijk and Gomez are re-introduced.

Liverpool's style of play requires a centre-back that can succeed in 1 v 1 situations as well as step out with the ball at his feet. Klopp is displeased at having to play two of his best midfielders, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, in central defence.

It remains to be seen if Liverpool can seal a deal for a new centre back this month but the Reds are definitely looking at all their options.