Tiago Ilori: Liverpool defender returns to club amid defensive injury crisis after Aston Villa loan cancelled
The Portuguese U21 international returns having not made a single senior appearance during his time at Villa Park
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Your support makes all the difference.Aston Villa have agreed to cancel the loan of Tiago Ilori, thereby allowing the defender to return to injury-ravaged Liverpool.
The 22-year-old centre-back will train at Melwood ahead of Friday’s FA Cup tie against Exeter City following a fitness crisis which has depleted Jurgen Klopp’s options at the back.
The Portuguese U21 international was not able to be recalled by his parent club under the terms of the season-long loan but, having not selected the youngster for a single senior appearance during his time at Villa Park, Villa were happy to cancel the agreement.
Villa, who paid £1million for Ilori’s temporary move back in September, had an option to sign the defender for a fee between £6million and £9million at the end of the season. The youngster, however, failed to impress either former manager Tim Sherwood or current incumbent Remi Garde, meaning there was little chance of the club retaining his services.
Liverpool have been hit with a defensive injury crisis, with Mamdou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren all unavailable for Friday’s visit to St. James Park. Before Ilori’s return, Kolo Toure was the club’s only fit senior centre-back.
The club are believed to be keen on bringing in cover at centre-back during the current transfer window, with a loan move most likely.
Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia, Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic and Schalke 04’s Joel Matip are the latest defenders linked with a temporary move.
18-year-old attacking midfielder Sheyi Ojo has also returned to the club, having been recalled from his loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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