Liverpool set to take Portuguese defender to Anfield to deal with injury crisis

TIAGO ILORI looks likely to return to Anfield this month after failing to break into the Aston Villa first-team.

 

Tiago Ilori has yet to play in the Premier League

 

The 22-year-old joined Villa on loan in September but has not made a single appearance for the Premier League's bottom side.

Injuries to fellow centre-backs Ciaran Clark and Micah Richards have created opportunities in the position, but Ilori himself has no been fit enough to capitalise.

And new manager Remi Garde has previously called upon the Portuguese under-21 international to prove he is capable of 90 minutes before he will be selected.

 

The Liverpool Echo are now reporting that Ilori's loan, which is due to end when the season does, could be terminated early given his lack of opportunity at Villa Park.

The deal originally cost the Premier League's bottom side £1million, with an option to make the move permanent for between £6m and £9m.

However, with that eventuality increasingly unlikely given Ilori has only even been on the bench once this year, Liverpool expect him to return to the club in January.

 

Jurgen Klopp's side have struggled with injury in the centre of defence, with Martin Skrtel and Joe Gomez both currently out, while Dejan Lovren, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho have all spent time one the sidelines.

But Ilori will have to prove himself to the German manager as despite signing in 2013, he has yet to make his Liverpool debut.

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