Liverpool considered moving for Lyon defender Marcelo during the January transfer window, according to a report.
The Reds ended their frantic search for a new centre-back on deadline day with the additions of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak from Preston North End and Schalke 04 respectively.
However, The Sun claims that Jurgen Klopp's men previously had Marcelo in mind as a short-term solution to their injury woes.
The newspaper suggests that the only reason Liverpool did not push through with a move for the 33-year-old is because Jason Denayer was injured at the weekend, leaving the Ligue 1 side short of cover at the back.
New recruits Davies and Kabak will provide Klopp with some much-needed options in the heart of defence, with Joel Matip joining Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk in being ruled out for the season.