New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long has caught the attention of English Premier League giants Liverpool with the intention of taking up the defense, several sources told ESPN.
Liverpool have been plagued by injuries at their bottom line, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all offside. Such has been the need for the Reds that midfielder Jordan Henderson has been forced to replace Liverpool’s center-back. Long would provide a short-term depth option to alleviate the shortage of reds ’bottom line options.
– MLS on ESPN +: plays and live plays (US only)
Manager Jurgen Klopp made it clear after Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur that he would be willing to add a new central defender to this month’s transfer window.
“If you have a central half available at a reasonable price and with the quality we need, send me a message,” he told BT Sport.
“I was thinking [about making signings] and we think all the time, but it’s about doing the right thing. We have to find the right player. It’s amazing what happens on the defensive line. “
Liverpool did not officially confirm interest in the defender when ESPN asked him for comments.
The link with Long comes amid growing European interest in the USMNT’s international advocate. The Washington Post reported that Reading, of the English league, want to lend to Long, while MLSSoccer.com said there was “interest from clubs in England and France”.
A league source told ESPN on Thursday that the Red Bulls had not yet received any formal offer for Long. The transfer period to Europe closes Monday night.
Long, 28, is a late flowering. It was drafted by the Portland Timbers in 2014, but was released in mid-season as it had loans in the USL Championship with Sacramento Republic and the Orange County Blues.
He soon joined the Seattle Sounders and spent 2015 playing on his reserve team. In 2016 Long went on trial with the Red Bulls and was signed by his backup team, New York Red Bulls II, and spent the entire 2016 season at USL.
In 2017, Long made a major breakthrough in the Red Bulls first team and has been a key pillar ever since, with 120 appearances in leagues, cups and playoffs, scoring nine goals. He was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2018, a season in which the Red Bulls earned the Supporters Shield, which goes to the team with the highest points of the regular season.
Long’s form caught the attention of U.S. men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter, with Long making 18 appearances in the United States while scoring three goals. Long is on a training camp with the U.S. national team, and is expected to match up for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago this Sunday in Orlando.