Former Football League striker Adebayo Akinfenwa was keen on becoming a wrestler after hanging up his boots. The 230-pounder would have been a powerhouse that could stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Brock Lesnar.

The Reds currently have just four orthodox centre back options. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté are the established pairing, while Joe Gomez and 18-year-old signing Giovanni Leoni are on standby in case of emergencies. Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have featured in the centre of defence in preseason but are not viable long-term options.