Liverpool signs pair of defenders

FOOTBALL

LONDON: English Premier League champion Liverpool signed two defenders on transfer deadline day but most clubs kept their money in their pockets as the financial impact of the Covid19 pandemic hit hard.

Preston centre back Ben Davies signed a ‘‘longterm contract’’ with Liverpool in a deal reportedly worth up to £1.6 million ($NZ3.05 million).

And Juergen Klopp’s side also signed 20yearold Turkey defender Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke to the end of the season, with an option to buy him in the summer.

Brighton and West Brom also dipped their toes in the transfer market, securing deals for Moises Caicedo from Independiente del Valle of Ecuador’s top flight and Turkey midfielder Okay Yokuslu respectively.

But the overall spending on transfer deadline day was vastly reduced from usual.

Davies and Kabak will offer Liverpool backup for a defensive lineup missing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, who was ruled out for the rest of the season yesterday with an ankle injury.

Klopp said Davies was ‘‘a really good footballer’’.

‘‘He looks like a proper leader in this Preston team, good in challenges, looks football smart, can play different positions because he played in a back three and a back four and all these things.

‘‘That makes him really interesting so I’m really looking forward to working with him. I know for him it’s an opportunity and I see it exactly the same for us, that it’s a really good thing to do.’’

Brighton secured 19yearold midfielder Caicedo on a fouryear deal that runs until 2025.

The deal remains subject to international clearance but boss Graham Potter sees a lot of potential in Caicedo, who made his international debut for Ecuador last October.

‘‘He has done very well in Ecuador and made his debut for his country at just 18,’’ Potter said.

‘‘He’s an exciting signing, but it is important we give him time to adjust.’’

According to Brighton’s technical director Dan Ashworth, the club has been working on Caicedo’s transfer for a ‘‘few weeks’’.

“It has been a complicated transfer,’’ Ashworth said.

Brighton also said goodbye to striker Glenn Murray, who dropped down to join secondtier Championship side Nottingham Forest yesterday. Murray (37) was previously on loan at Watford for the start of the 202021 campaign and joined Forest on a free transfer, where he will be reunited with former Brighton manager Chris Hughton.

West Brom took its January signings to four, as Yokuslu joined Robert Snodgrass, Mbaye Diagne and Arsenal defender Ainsley MaitlandNiles, who signed on loan until the end of the season, with minutes to spare.

Another Arsenal player, Joe Willock, moved to Newcastle on loan while Gedson Fernandes, Jose Mourinho’s first signing as Tottenham manager, ended his loan spell in London to join Galatasaray, also on loan.

Everton forward Cenk Tosun also moved to Turkey, rejoining former club Besiktas on loan until the end of the season. — DPA