9th Liverpool summer transfer completed as £2m Ragnar Klavan exits but Jurgen Klopp has identified young replacement already

Ragnar Klavan points to Sardinia after signing for Cagliari from Liverpool

Liverpool completed their ninth summer transfer on Friday as experienced defender Ragnar Klavan moved on to join Cagliari.

The 32-year-old cost Cagliari £2m, according to BBC Sport, who report that he has signed with the Serie A club until 2020.

Klavan played 28 matches for Liverpool in all competitions last season but appeared to be behind Virgil van Dijk, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez in the pecking order.

Still, on the face of it, Klavan’s departure seems to have left Liverpool short at centre-back, especially when you consider that Lovren and Matip are nursing fitness issues.

But Klopp has a plan to promote youth, claims David Maddock, who is The Mirror’s northern football correspondent.

Maddock has suggested that Klopp intends to give Nat Phillips opportunities to become a squad player at Anfield.

READ MORE: ‘We are capable of beating anyone’ – Liverpool midfielder targets trophies

Phillips has not yet made a first-team appearance for the Reds.

The Bolton-born defender is 21 years old.

Klavan was the fifth player to leave Liverpool on a permanent basis this summer, after Emre Can, Jon Flanagan, Jordan Williams and Danny Ward.

The Reds have signed four – Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Alisson.

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is liked by Jurgen Klopp