Jurgen Klopp says Nat Phillips is now likely to stay at Anfield this summer as Liverpool's injuries mount up.
The Reds boss confirmed Ibrahima Konate will be out for “a while” after the centre-back suffered a knee problem in last Sunday’s friendly defeat to Strasbourg at Anfield.
And Klopp admits the problem for the Frenchman could impact the future of Nat Phillips, who had been expected to leave this summer with Bournemouth among a number of interested clubs.
READ MORE: Liverpool face fixture chaos with massive pile-up caused by Champions League
READ MORE: 'The simple answer' - Roy Keane sends blunt Liverpool message ahead of Premier League season
Asked if the centre-back will now stay beyond the transfer deadline, Klopp said: “Probably. (Konate’s injury) will influence the outgoing transfers, I would say.”
Meanwhile, Klopp hasn’t ruled out making another move in the transfer window after admitting Liverpool have “too many injuries”.
Curtis Jones is still wearing a protective boot as Liverpool continue to assess a calf injury that forced him to miss the game last weekend, while Diogo Jota remains a few weeks away from a return after aggravating a hamstring problem and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to be sidelined for several months after suffering a similar issue.
Caoimhin Kelleher, who hasn’t featured all pre-season, is expected to be out until next month although Kostas Tsimikas should resume training next week.
But while not having any immediate plans to bolster the squad with a new arrival before the September 1 deadline, Klopp is keeping an open mind.
“We have too many injuries, that's true,” said the Reds boss. “But in the moment nothing has changed (in terms of new signings). A lot of unlucky situations. Started with Caoimh and Diogo, pretty much one was injured and one had a re-injury.
“With Diogo it was slightly too early, in a few weeks’ time they will be back, but they’ve missed pre-season and that’s not cool.
“Ibou in a challenge in the game against Strasbourg, what happened there we have to see how long it will take but he's out for a while. Oxlade, of course, too.
“Kostas unlucky in a training situation. He is out on the pitch now and in his opinion he might be ready to train next week, which is helpful.
“Curtis, we hope we caught it at the right moment. That’s how it is with young players. They have some kind of stress reaction sometimes and it’s not massive pain but it could lead to something serious. We caught it early but still have to be careful now.
“But we cannot solve a problem we have for four weeks with a transfer for a full year. That makes at the moment no sense to us. But the transfer window is still open and we will see. But the plans are not to go in that direction.”
Liverpool will at least be able to call upon Alisson Becker for the Premier League opener at Fulham on Saturday after the goalkeeper was absent from the last four friendlies with an abdominal problem.
And Naby Keita should be in contention having missed the Strasbourg game through illness.
“Ali is fine,” said Klopp on Friday. “Naby I think will be back today the first day. I underestimated that (his illness) a little bit when I said he would definitely be fine. Yesterday some symptoms still, not covid, but not right.”
READ NEXT:
Liverpool fans sent brutal message after 'wasted talent' who left Sir Alex Ferguson fuming
'We really tried to sign' - Pep Lijnders lifts lid on Liverpool transfer strategy
Steven Gerrard left devastated after 'stupid' Liverpool transfer
Ibrahima Konate breaks injury silence as Liverpool handed further headache for Fulham
Liverpool plan next step for Trent Alexander-Arnold after private pre-season conversation
