Liverpool ‘open talks with Schalke over highly rated Ozan Kabak’ as Jurgen Klopp identifies £20m as emergency cover for the injured Virgil van Dijk
- Liverpool have opened talks with Schalke over young defender Ozan Kabak
- The Reds are in need of defenders following the injury of Virgil van Dijk
- Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of Kabak and wanted him in the summer window
- Schalke want £30m for the 20-year-old but Liverpool are offering £20m
Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Schalke over a move for their highly-rated centre half Ozan Kabak as Jurgen Klopp moves to bring in cover for the injured Virgil van Dijk.
The Premier League champions have been rocked by the loss of their defensive colossus, who has been ruled out for most of the season after injuring his knee due to a clash with Jordan Pickford.
Van Dijk’s injury leaves Klopp’s side short of options in the centre of defence, with Fabinho roped in to cover for the 29-year-old in games against Ajax and Sheffield United.
Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Schalke over a move for defender Ozan Kabak
The 20-year-old defender is highly rated and it is thought Liverpool are preparing a £20m offer
And according to The Mirror, Liverpool have told Bundesliga side Schalke that they want to sign their 20-year-old defender this January.
The German coach is believed to be an admirer of the young centre back, and the Reds are thought to have made a move for Kabak in the summer but for the coronavirus pandemic.
Schalke had valued their defender at £40m but the ramifications of Covid-19 means that Liverpool are optimistic they can sign the young talent for half that figure.
The German side are still looking for £30m for Kabak, but it is believed that the Reds will make an offer of £20m for the Turkish defender.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is in desperate need of defensive cover after a huge injury blow
Defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk is out for most of the season after picking up a knee injury
Kabak has been at Schalke for just over a year after the club triggered his £13m release clause to purchase him from Stuttgart in the summer of 2019.
He came through the ranks at Galatasaray before moving to Germany. The 20-year-old has won four caps for his country.
Liverpool bounced back from the loss of Van Dijk with a closely-fought win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
Klopp’s side overturned a one-goal deficit, with Fabinho conceding a controversial first-half penalty. Goals from Firmino and new signing Diogo Jota completed the turnaround.
