Liverpool are reportedly pursuing a loan move for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic as Reds boss Jurgen Klopp looks to shore up his injury-hit defence.

The Merseyside outfit have been left with no fit central defenders ahead of Friday’s trip to Exeter City, and they are reportedly looking to secure the 27-year-old on a short-term deal before the FA Cup clash at St. James Park, per David Maddock in the Mirror.

As relayed by the Mirror‘s Liam Prenderville, Klopp is on the lookout for available players and Subotic could be an ideal target:

“The truth is that we have to react on the situation. It is difficult enough to find quality players, who are in a difficult situation at their own clubs. We have our eyes open in the transfer market.”

Klopp signed Subotic for Dortmund in 2008, and the defender played a key role in the German’s team ahead of his departure from the managerial role at Signal Iduna Park in the summer of 2015.

However, under new Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, the Serbian has made only two Bundesliga appearances, per WhoScored.com, and could well be open to a move to Anfield.

Subotic is an experienced and reliable centre-back and would compete for a first-team spot in Klopp’s Liverpool side even with Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel fit.

Per Maddock, though, the negotiations for Subotic are currently “stuck,” and the Reds have reportedly approached Inter Milan over the signing of Andrea Ranocchia.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have made a bid of around £6.7 million for the Italy international:

However, local rivals Everton are also reportedly interested in the 27-year-old, potentially throwing a spanner in the works for Liverpool.

Ranocchia is likely available for purchase in the current transfer window as he is far from a guaranteed starter at the San Siro—he has made nine of his 10 Serie A appearances this season from the bench, per WhoScored.

He is an accomplished and experienced defender, but he’s prone to mistakes in a similar way to the likes of Lovren and Skrtel, per football writer Nik Postinger:

However, given their current predicament, Liverpool could do with signing the first readily available, experienced centre-back.

Per Paul Joyce in the Express, Liverpool have been given a slight boost with the early return of centre-back Tiago Ilori from his season-long loan at Aston Villa—the Birmingham outfit cancelled the agreement as the Portuguese was not making the team—but the 22-year-old is vastly inexperienced.

Liverpool have also welcomed back winger Sheyi Ojo after recalling the 18-year-old from his loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, per the Championship club’s website.

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