Transfer news: Liverpool signs QPR defender on loan

English Premier League (EPL) club Liverpool has signed Championship club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) defender Steven Caulker on loan for the rest of the season.

The former Tottenham Hotspurs and Cardiff City man was on loan at Southampton. However, The Saints cancelled the agreement and allowed Caulker to join Liverpool until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old defender is eligible to face Arsenal at home on Wednesday.

Inclusion of Caulker will aid Liverpool’s cause as they have suffered a succession of injuries this season. Coach Jurgen Klopp has stated Caulker’s signing as the “best solution” for the club.

Liverpool’s first team defenders Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel are currently nursing hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure, who were side-lined for knee and cramp injuries respectively, will be fit for return against Arsenal. The Merseyside club has also called back Tiago Llori from loan. The Portuguese featured for The Reds in their 2-2 FA Cup third-round draw with Exeter.

Steven Caulker’s last appearance for Southampton came against Liverpool in the League Cup, where they lost 6-1.

"Steven came in the summer before we signed Virgil van Dijk because we had long-term injuries and he was a back-up," Southampton manager Ronald Koeman said, as reported by BBC.

Koeman also stated that Southampton has a lot of central defenders which caused Caulker to find less game time. Hence, there was no reason for the Dutchman to deny Caulker the opportunity to play for Liverpool.

Liverpool has been linked with a host of central defenders in the January transfer window. Neven Subotic of Borussia Dortmund and Joel Matip of Schalke are the top two names to be linked with the Merseyside club.

Caulker made his debut for England in 2012. During his time in Tottenham Hotspurs, he was sent out on loan to Swansea City, Yeovil Town and Bristol City. Caulker has only made three appearances for Southampton this season. He has won two tackles, made five interceptions with 16 clearances and two blocks for The Saints, according to squawka.com.