Liverpool have reportedly opened discussions over a potential defensive signing as the club scrambles to deal with a growing right-back crisis ahead of the transfer deadline.

The situation worsened after head coach Arne Slot confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong will be sidelined for several weeks following an injury picked up early in Liverpool’s midweek Champions League victory over Qarabag. The Dutchman was forced off inside the opening minutes, immediately raising concerns within the squad.

Speaking after the match, Slot admitted Frimpong would play no part in the upcoming fixture against Newcastle, but offered a small positive update on the severity of the injury.

“He definitely won’t be involved tomorrow,” Slot explained. “He’ll be out for a few weeks, but thankfully it’s not as serious as we initially feared.”

The timing could hardly be worse for Liverpool. Conor Bradley has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Joe Gomez is also unavailable this weekend after suffering an injury against Bournemouth. As a result, the Reds are left without a natural right-back option.

With options running thin, reports from Italy suggest Liverpool have made contact with Inter Milan to gather information about Denzel Dumfries. Well-known journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims the Premier League side has begun exploring the conditions of a possible deal following Frimpong’s setback.

However, any move is said to depend on several factors, including Frimpong’s recovery timeline and Inter’s stance on allowing the Dutch international to leave. Inter, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing for all scenarios and have been linked with Genoa defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy as a potential replacement.

Further reports from Nicolò Schira indicate that Liverpool have also held preliminary talks with Dumfries’ representatives, with Inter believed to be asking for a fee in the region of €25 million.

The 29-year-old has endured a stop-start campaign due to injury and has not been a regular starter this season, but his quality and experience at the highest level remain unquestioned.

Former England striker Alan Shearer previously backed Dumfries as a strong fit for Liverpool, highlighting his attacking threat and familiarity with Slot’s football philosophy.

While Dumfries faces stiff competition and the prospect of silverware at Inter, Liverpool’s defensive emergency could yet trigger a dramatic late move before deadline day.