New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long caught the eye of Liverpool, the English Premier League giant, with the aim of lending the defender, several sources told ESPN.
Liverpool have suffered defensive injuries, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip out. The Reds need it so much that midfielder Jordan Henderson was forced to replace at the center of Liverpool’s defense. Long would provide a short-term depth option to alleviate the Reds’ shortage of backline options.
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Coach Jurgen Klopp made it clear after Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur that he would like to sign a new central defender in this month’s transfer window.
“If you have a midfielder available at a reasonable price and with the quality we need, send me a message,” he said at BT Sport.
“We thought [about making signings] and we think all the time, but it’s about doing the right thing. We need to find the right player. It is incredible what is happening on the defensive line. “
Liverpool did not officially confirm their interest in the defender when they were approached by ESPN for comment.
The connection with Long comes amid growing European interest in the USMNT international defender. The Washington Post said Reading, the English league, wanted to bring Long on loan, while MLSSoccer.com said there was “interest from clubs in England and France”.
A league source told ESPN on Thursday that the Red Bulls have yet to receive any formal offers for Long. The transfer window in Europe closes Monday night.
Long, 28, started late. He was drafted by the Portland Timbers in 2014, but was released mid-season after having had stints in the USL Championship with the Sacramento Republic and Orange County Blues.
He soon joined the Seattle Sounders and spent 2015 playing for the reserve team. In 2016, Long went on trial with the Red Bulls and was hired by his reserve team, the New York Red Bulls II, and spent the entire 2016 season at the USL.
In 2017, Long made a debut in the Red Bulls’ main team and has been a pillar ever since, making 120 league, cup and playoff games, scoring nine goals. He was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2018, a season in which the Red Bulls won the Supporters Shield, which goes to the team with the highest total points in the regular season.
Long’s form drew the attention of US men’s coach Gregg Berhalter, with Long making 18 appearances for the United States and scoring three goals. Long is on training ground with the United States and is due to prepare for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago this Sunday in Orlando.