Liverpool are pushing to sign Schalke defender Ozan Kabak but face a race against time to secure the deal before the transfer window ends.
The Reds have come alive in the transfer window and are looking to secure deals for two center-backs. Preston’s Ben Davies are expected to be one, while Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car was identified as an option on Sunday night.
However, talks with the French side quickly came to an impasse, with Mohamed Bouhafsi revealing that a deal was no longer on the table, and sources confirmed 90 mins that negotiations are currently underway on a loan agreement for Kabak.
Target of the summer, Liverpool have long admired the 20-year-old, who has also found his way onto Manchester United’s radar.
Sky Sports News report adds that Liverpool have already prepared for Kabak to undergo a medical examination in Germany, but it could all come down to whether Schalke can find a replacement before the Bundesliga window closes at 5 p.m. (GMT) .
Schalke has identified his favorite target, but there can be no assurance that he will be able to strike a deal on the line in time, especially since they won’t pocket Liverpool a lot of money if they loan Kabak.
The Reds are keen to pay loan fees of around £ 2.5million and choose the option of signing Kabak permanently this summer, but Schalke has yet to accept the offer as they focus on finding an alternative.
Kabak has been one of the shining lights of what has been an otherwise disappointing season for Schalke. They are currently at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, having collected just eight points in 19 games, but their young defender has definitely stood out.
He was expected to be one of Liverpool’s targets at the end of the season, but with Jurgen Klopp’s injury crisis showing no signs of abating, the Reds were forced into action earlier than expected.
Fabinho and Joel Matip have both been injured recently, while returns from Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are still a long way off, forcing Klopp to face midfielder Jordan Henderson alongside Nat Phillips in Sunday’s 3-1 win. against West Ham.
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