Liverpool have signed the Augsburg central defender Ragnar Klavan for £4.2m plus add-ons.

The 30-year-old, who has made 108 appearances for Estonia, arrives on a three-year contract having emerged as Jürgen Klopp’s choice for left-sided defensive cover.

Klopp identified the experienced Klavan as an ideal replacement for Kolo Touré, who was released at the end of last season. Liverpool needed reinforcement in central defence with Martin Skrtel sold to Fenerbahce plus Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez struggling with achilles injuries.

Klavan, who impressed against Liverpool in the Europa League last season, is ready to join the squad on their pre-season tour of the United States. Liverpool play Huddersfield Town in a friendly on Wednesday before heading for their training base at Stanford University on Thursday.

Klopp has partnered Bosman signing Joel Matip alongside Dejan Lovren in central defence in pre-season.

The Liverpool manager is also expected to add Georginio Wijnaldum to his ranks before the start of the season but the club have yet to reach agreement on a deal for the Holland midfielder with Newcastle United.

Newcastle value the 25-year-old at £25m having paid £14.5m for the attacking midfielder only last summer. A deal involving Liverpool players as make-weights has been discussed, with Sheyi Ojo and Lucas Leiva mentioned, but differing valuations of those players, their reluctance to drop into the Championship and Klopp’s desire to keep Ojo at Anfield, has delayed an agreement being reached.

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have also registered interest in the former PSV Eindhoven player but were reluctant to meet Newcastle’s valuation.