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Ausburg defender Klavan linked with switch to Anfield

Mark MeadowsJuly 18, 2016

Augsburg defender Ragnar Klavan missed the 2-0 defeat against Sandhausen officially because of a back problem. But the Estonia international has been strongly linked in the UK press with Premier League side Liverpool.

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Bundesliga FC Augsburg Ragnar Klavan
Image: Imago/MIS

Klavan is seen as a good backup by Liverpool's German coach Jürgen Klopp, according to British media reports, and his absence from the Sandhausen friendly will only fuel speculation he is heading to Anfield.

Liverpool need reinforcements in the centre of their defensive line after Mamadou Sakho was ruled out of the start of the season with an Achilles problem and Joel Matip, a close-season arrival from Schalke, limped off with a minor injury during a weekend friendly against Wigan Athletic.

Widespread media reports in Britain have said Estonia's Klavan, 30, will leave Augsburg for Liverpool for around 5 million euros.

Augsburg's potential problems without him were demonstrated by their first defeat of pre-season on Monday and their first loss under new coach Dirk Schuster. They had previously beaten fifth and fourth-division sides.

Markus Karl und Thomas Pledl grabbed the goals for second tier Sandhausen.

Augsburg begin their season with a German Cup first-round trip to fifth division Ravensburg on Friday August 19. They start their Bundesliga campaign at home to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday August 27.