Liverpool miss out on one target – is this defender coming to Anfield in January?

As Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers looks forward to the January transfer window, talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight has more on the young French centre-back currently on their radar, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin.

Name: Nicolas Isimat-Mirin
D.O.B: 15 November 1991
Born: Meudon, near Paris
Club: Valenciennes
Position: Centre-back
International honours: Capped at France U20 and U21 level

What's the latest?
Reports suggest the Reds will be priced out of a move for Feyenoord's Stefan de Vrij, so will move for Nicolas Isimat-Mirin instead. However, some reports in France are suggesting Liverpool would loan him back to Valenciennes for the remainder of the season, should the Reds be successful in their attempts to lure him across the Channel.

Did you know?
1) A graduate of France's famous Clairefontaine academy, Isimat-Mirin joined current club Valenciennes in 2008, having been a youth player at Rennes. Valenciennes awarded him his first senior contract in October 2010, which began at the end of the season in July 2011.

2) Manager Phillippe Montanier handed him his debut in September 2010 when Valenciennes beat Nimes 5-4 in the French League Cup, then five days later Isimat-Mirin made his Ligue 1 bow in a 1-0 defeat to Brest.

3) In September 2012, French paper L'Equipe reported that Lille tried and failed to bring Isimat-Mirin 30 miles up the road for £2m, which was well below his employers' valuation of the 21-year-old.

4) In Ligue 1 this season, Isimat-Mirin has played 17 of Valenciennes' games and the 6ft 1in defender has impressed with his dominant displays of power in the air.

5) He earned his first France U21 cap in September 2011 against Portugal and in total has three appearances to date (18 December 2012) for that age group.

What is being said?
He says:
“Luckily my mum was there after the match, because I needed comforting.”
- Isimat-Mirin after Valenciennes were thrashed 4-0 at home by PSG earlier in December because he needed the comfort.

Video:

Do Liverpool need any more centre-backs, or can they rely on Sebastian Coates and Jamie Carragher as back up for Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel? Share your thoughts on the subject, below…