Liverpool is making a late charge to land Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, currently on loan at Sunderland, before the January 2026 transfer window shuts.
Reports suggest the Premier League champions have opened talks for the versatile Netherlands international. No deal is done yet, but the clock is ticking on deadline day.
Slot Reunites with Former Ace?
The pursuit of Geertruida makes sense for Liverpool, especially with Arne Slot at the helm. He coached the 24-year-old at Feyenoord. That connection, sources say, is a big factor here.
The Reds won their record 20th Premier League title last season, Slot’s first campaign in charge. They need to keep strengthening the squad, a point of focus after a quiet prior window that only saw one new face arrive. Geertruida fits a defensive need, able to play both right-back and center-back.
Liverpool had interest in Geertruida before, apparently. This isn’t a new name on their radar.
Sunderland Holds the Key
The sticking point for any move for Geertruida? Sunderland. He’s on loan there, and the Black Cats won’t let him leave unless they get a replacement. Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie confirmed this, saying,
Sunderland will not stand in the way of Geertruida, but the Black Cats want a replacement first.
And that makes things tricky. Late window moves are common, but recalling a loan player and then selling him, all while a third club needs to find a replacement, is complicated. TEAMtalk, via OneFootball, reported Liverpool opened “exploratory talks” for the defender.
Goal.com also mentioned Liverpool’s “final push” for a new defender, with Geertruida as a “top target.” See the Goal.com article for more.
Other Targets and the Deadline Rush
Geertruida isn’t the only name on Liverpool’s defensive wishlist. They’ve also been linked with Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, though he has ankle injury concerns.
Rennes’ Jérémy Jacquet, valued at €60m, is another, and Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano is also mentioned.
But with the January 31, 2026, deadline closing fast, Geertruida seems the most immediate focus. It’s a classic transfer window scenario, all coming down to the wire.
Sunderland’s transfer blog was active late on deadline day, but no Geertruida update was visible. The waiting game continues for Liverpool fans. They want to see Slot get his man.
Soureesh Datta 
Priyanjan Paul