Liverpool are reportedly weighing up a bid for Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi to ease their defensive injury crisis.

The German centre-back is out of favour at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta keen to offload him.

According to the Evening Standard , Liverpool are yet to approach Arsenal about a potential deal, with Mustafi just one of several options on their shortlist.

Mustafi’s contract runs out in the summer, meaning Liverpool would likely be able to acquire him for a minimal fee, and could yet even land him for nothing.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed the club were in talks with Mustafi’s agent over potentially terminating his contract this month.

Jurgen Klopp had earlier confirmed Liverpool “will try” to add a new defender before the transfer deadline on Monday.

The Reds lost Joel Matip to injury at half-time of Thursday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham, with Fabinho also missing the match.

And when asked whether the club will now attempt to land a defender in the coming days, Klopp said: “We will try. It would be funny if you thought Liverpool were fine with the situation.

“We try, but there’s nothing to say until something happens. We will see.”

Thomas Tuchel has warned German rival Jurgen Klopp: I’m going to knock you off your perch.

He said:  ”Let’s try to make things a bit more complicated for him.

“I’m not sure I should set my goal for myself, because he is Jurgen and he has found his place to be like he did with Dortmund.

“People love him, fans love him, his team loves him and he has the results for it.

“But we start right now, to close the gap and to take away a bit of his points and his reputation.

“With all respect and all friendship, of course.”

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud will reportedly leave Stamford Bridge when his deal expires this summer.

Top Serie A clubs like Inter Milan, Juventus, AS Roma have made enquiries about the availabilty of the Frenchman. But for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard refused to let him leave.

Tuttomercatoweb claims the veteran forward wants a new challenge after he represents France at the Euros.

Giroud almost left last summer before ex-boss Frank Lampard convinced him to pen a new contract.

But the former Arsenal man intends to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer this year, with Serie A his most likely destination.

Paul Merson has urged Thomas Tuchel to deploy Kai Havertz as a No10 for Chelsea.

Merson told TalkSport: “Havertz is 21 years old, he’s going to be a good player.

“People can sit down with me and say he ain’t done anything but he will be special. He will be a special player.

“He’s young, he’s come over, his confidence is shot. For me, I think the manager got it right the other night. Keep playing him in the hole.”

Following their individual roles in the row that occurred during Tuesday’s Coppa Italia derby, both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku have received a one-match ban.

The strikers were involved in a scuffle in the first half of the Coppa Italia derby and were both booked by the referee Paolo Valeri.

Lukaku was on a yellow card and, therefore, will be suspended against Juventus in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals next week.

Ibra picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Aleksandr Kolarov in the second half of the game and has also received a one-match ban that is valid for Coppa Italia games.

According to Sky Sport, via Foootball Italia, the Federal Prosecutor can still open an investigation to assess any possible discrimination as he hasn’t yet received the referee’s report with the contents of the statements of both players.

Joe Cole slammed the player power that exists at Stamford Bridge in the wake of his pal Frank Lampard’s brutal sacking.

Speaking on the latest edition of the All To Play For podcast put together by bookmaker Coral and Joe, Cole said: “It is a difficult one for me to comment on as I know everybody involved. I know Frank, Jody Morris, Petr Cech and the owner.

“The people who made the decision will argue it isn’t a problem. There does seem to be an issue at the club though, in that certain players have too much of an influence over what goes on.

“They have a direct line up to those making the decisions over who is in charge – that needs to stop if Thomas Tuchel is to be a success.

“In six months, there will be 11 players out of the team and not in form.

“They cannot go to their agents or however they go about it and start bringing discontent to the club. Imagine if that went on at Manchester United when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge?”

Thiago Silva has opened up on his desire to one day return to his former club Fluminense, where he made 143 appearances as a young defender.

Before moving to Europe with AC Milan in 2009, Silva played at the top-tier Brazilian club for three years, making 143 appearances and winning the Copa do Brasil.

As the former Brazil captain comes up to 12 years of playing in Europe, first with Milan, then with PSG and now with Chelsea, the 36-year-old did not sugarcoat the fact that he is keen on a return to his homeland – his contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of this season, though he does a one-year option to extend.

He told TNT Sports: “I do have this dream of returning to wearing the shirt of Fluminense, everyone knows my desire, it was expressed by [manager] Marcao recently also in an interview.

“But it’s something I prefer to leave ahead to see how things are going to happen, right. It’s a difficult decision to be made, but I’m really thinking with great affection and suddenly have this Libertadores mission again.”

When Silva moved to Milan in 2009, he was coming in to act as a replacement of sorts for club legend Paolo Maldini, who was retiring that year at the age of 40 following a trophy-laden 25-year career at the San Siro.

Though the pair never played together, Silva admits to being inspired by Maldini to play as long as he can, with the age of 40 a milestone he wants to reach.

“Those last six months of his career were the six months when I had arrived at Milan and couldn’t play,” Silva recalled.

“I identified a lot with Paulo and in this little interaction that I had with him, I could see that suddenly I was preparing well and could reach 40 years of age playing wherever I wanted, you know.

“And Paulo, for sure, he’s certainly somebody that I greatly admired, a mirror so that I can reach these 40 years, which is the age I have in my head that maybe I could end my career.”

Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi revealed he had never played wing-back before being asked to by new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday evening.

The 20-year-old, who ordinarily occupies a more attacking role, was told to play as part of a back five in the German’s first game in charge – which ended in a goalless draw with Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

He told the Chelsea website: “It was something new for me.

“It was my first time trying it yesterday [in training] and I felt alright playing in it, it wasn’t a problem for me.

“It was good trying to play that position and no matter where the manager asks me to play I will try to do my best.

“He wants me to be as direct and to keep getting at full-backs and defenders as much as possible.”

Tuchel has no plans to make any last minute signings this month having arrived at the start of the week.

The German has inherited a squad but appears content to work with it for the remainder of the season.

“No, [no gaps to fill] but it is hard for me to judge right now,” he said when questioned on possible arrivals.

“I am very happy with what I have seen so far.

“N’Golo Kante came back today so we have 22 players and the goalkeeper.”

Cesar Azpilicueta has quashed talk of a rift caused by Antonio Rudiger at Chelsea.

The Blues captain said: “With Toni, we didn’t have an issue and we have been working together for a few years,” said the Blues captain.

“That news from outside, we’re not sure so that’s why Tammy and myself we both tweeted.

“Everything is fine and I can say that didn’t happen. We didn’t have any issues and we don’t have. We always work together.

“As other players, we have sometimes our discussions, normal in football.

“When results are not going well, everybody has more tension around but nothing further than this.

“Normal footballers like normal workers in their offices or with other jobs with pressure who have to deliver and nothing further than this. There is not an issue, we are so committed.”