Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits they'll try to sign a centre-back before the end of the transfer window.
Injuries to Joel Matip and Fabinho, along with the long-term absences of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have left the reigning champions are not only without a senior central defender but also their first-choice back-ups.
The extent of the damage to Matip's ankle ligaments will be known later today when he gets the results of a scan.
Klopp says getting a deal done in the next few days will be difficult.
"I'm not sure there's an £80m centre-back available at the moment, or pretty much I know this," the German coach admitted.
"A player of this caliber, I'm not sure teams would sell them now. We need to find the right player, that's clear, and it needs to suit our financial situation.
"It's the same situation as before, we work on this. If we don't sleep, we work. It's about solutions and that's what we are working on.
"Everything is long-term, apart from when we bring in a player for the next six months and that would be short-term - and had one half-year contract with Steven Caulker.
"Everyone thinks 'Oh Liverpool is just fine with the situation and they don't try.' We try.
"The situation yesterday didn't make it easier but it is just still we try to do the right things if that's possible."