Despite reports from Italy suggesting the Reds have made contact with the Nerazzurri, it appears Anfield officials may not pursue a deal for the Dutch full-back as the January transfer window enters its final hours.
The rumors gained traction after Liverpool’s defensive depth was pushed to breaking point, but the latest update from Jacobs suggests the club may be looking elsewhere, or perhaps nowhere at all, before Monday’s deadline.
Ben Jacobs update on Denzel Dumfries to Liverpool
Ben Jacobs took to social media to clarify the situation and was quick to throw cold water on the growing narrative that Dumfries could be the solution to Liverpool’s right-back crisis.
“I mentioned that there is nothing in the links for January with Liverpool and Denzel Dumfries,” Jacobs wrote further X.
Told there’s nothing in the left for January with Liverpool and Denzel Dumfries.? pic.twitter.com/f7ZjW9efBh
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 30, 2026
The dismissal comes despite high-profile claims from Italian journalists, among others Gianluca di Marziowho suggested Liverpool had contacted Inter to gauge the 29-year-old’s availability.
Inter Milan’s interest in Curtis Jones has further fueled speculation, with suggestions Liverpool could complete a swap deal that could bring Dumfries to Anfield.
That said, Dumfries is currently sidelined due to his own fitness issues and is unlikely to be back on the pitch until late February/March, making an emergency signing in January an unlikely option for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s right-back crisis
The urgency for defensive reinforcements at Anfield is real, regardless of Dumfries’ denial.
Arne Slot is currently experiencing a nightmare scenario on the right flank after a series of unfortunate setbacks.
Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a horrific knee injury against Arsenal.
Bayer Leverkusen’s summer signing Jeremy Frimpong limped off just minutes after the 6-0 win over Qarabag in midweek. Although Slot confirmed that the injury is “not as bad as feared”, he will miss several more weeks.
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| Conor Bradley | Knee injury |
| Giovanni Leoni | Knee injury |
| Jeremy Frimpong | Thigh injury |
| Joe Gomes | Hip injury |
List of injured Liverpool defenders
Joe Gomez, the versatile defender who can play as a right-back, is also currently unavailable due to a hip problem, although he is expected to return before the others.
With no fit senior right-backs available for the upcoming match against Newcastle, Slot may be forced to play midfielders such as Wataru Endo or Dominik Szoboszlai in a makeshift back four.
While the club remains alert to market opportunities, Jacobs’ update indicates that fans should not expect Dumfries to come to the AXA Training Center this winter.
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