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The return of Tiago Ilori from loan at Aston Villa will not prevent Liverpool from signing another centre back in the January transfer window as Jurgen Klopp moves to ease his injury crisis.

But a loan deal is at this stage regarded as the far more likely route for the Reds than a permanent buy as they struggle to cope with a bulging sick bay that includes their three first choice centre backs.

Dejan Lovren was the latest hit by the hoodoo, limping out of the Capital One Cup semi-final in the first half on Tuesday with a hamstring problem.

Martin Skrtel has been missing with a similar problem sustained against Watford on December 20 while Mamadou Sakho missed the Stoke semi-final with a slight knee problem.

Sakho will definitely miss the trip to Exeter for Friday night’s FA Cup third round tie and faces a race against time to be fit for the visit of Arsenal to Anfield in the Premier League next Wednesday despite his problem being regarded as relatively minor.

The Reds are in discussions with Villa about ending Portuguese Ilori’s stay in the Midlands early with the player being named just once in a first team squad this season.

Tim Sherwood was manager when Villa agreed to pay Liverpool £1m for Ilori’s services this year with an option to buy at the end of the year.

Ilori though has failed to make the breakthrough and new manager Remi Garde does not seem overly keen on the 22-year-old.

While Liverpool would welcome the extra depth he would provide, a more experienced defender is being sought to see Liverpool through the crisis.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the Reds did not intend to move for a centre back in this window until the current string of injuries took place.

But Klopp admitted Liverpool may look to bolster the position after the Reds were plunged into a defensive crisis by events at the Britannia.

Asked about transfers, Klopp said: “In this situation with no centre-backs fit, I would say (transfers) is something we could look at.

“Two weeks ago, we had three (centre-backs). That’s a good situation.

“When we started the season we had five including Joe Gomez.”

Interest in Schalke’s Cameroon international Joel Matip was expected to be pursued with a view to a move at the end of the season when he would be out of contract but no deal was in place so the prospect of accelerating any Anfield switch is extremely slim.

Reports in Italy have linked the Reds with talks over a possible move for Inter Milan’s Andrea Ranocchia.

The 27-year-old Italian international has been at the San Siro since 2011 but has started just one game this season after losing his place in Roberto Mancini’s starting 11.

If Klopp wishes to renew old acquaintance a move for Dortmund’s Neven Subotic remains a possibility.

The 27-year-old Serb has only made four appearances in the first half of the season for Klopp’s successor Thomas Tuchel and the prospect of first team football could be an attractive option for the Bundesliga winner.

While Kolo Toure’s problem on Tuesday was only cramp there is unlikely to be much help arriving from the Liverpool Academy.

Dan Cleary, probably the senior centre back in the U21s, is currently injured as is Tom Brewitt, hurt against Morecambe on Tuesday, although Joe Maguire is in training.