Liverpool are reportedly ready to make a move for Schalke centre-back Ozan Kabak, as a replacement for Dejan Lovren. Lovren left the Premier League champions recently to join Russian side Zenit Saint Petersbur0067.
According to Daily Mail, several clubs are interested in the 20-year-old defender, and Liverpool are one of them.
The report says that Schalke want a fee of around £40 million for the young Turkish defender. The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, and Liverpool’s league rivals Manchester City, are also interested in Kabak.
The Turkish international joined Schalke in 2019 for a fee of €15 million, and put in some impressive performances under David Wagner in the first half of the season.
Kabak still has four years remaining on his current deal at Schalke.
Ozan Kabak to Liverpool – A solid replacement for Lovren?
After six seasons at the club, Dejan Lovren has left Liverpool, and although he was not Klopp’s preferred choice, he still needs replacing.
(Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Lovren’s departure leaves Klopp with just three first-team centre-back options in Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip. The Premier League champions have to sign a solid centre back option, one who can be a dependable option off the bench, if needed.
Ozan Kabak has achieved quite a bit and played a lot of senior games despite being just 20 years of age. The central defender made his senior debut for Galatasaray two years ago, and under a year later earned a move to Stuttgart in January 2019. And after impressing at the German club, Schalke signed him up in the subsequent transfer window.
Kabak, who stands at 6’1″, is a strong centre-back who is very good in the air. He averaged 2.9 aerial wins per game in the 2019-20 German Bundesliga season.
The Turkish international is also quick to cover ground and press opponents, and even nip in to make tackles and interceptions. Despite being just 20, he has good physique and will only get better with time. Kabak has the pace to keep up with quick forwards, and makes sound decisions despite his tender age.
The right-footed centre-back also likes to bring the ball out from the back, and play long balls, averaging 3.3 long balls per game in the Bundesliga this past season.
Kabak could be a very good buy for Liverpool, considering his age and potential. Liverpool do not need a first-choice centre-back at the moment, as the likes of Matip and Gomez are good enough to play alongside van Dijk.
The Turk could be moulded into being a future first-team starter, considering his potential. The fee does seem steep, and it remains to be seen if the Reds will make a move for the 20-year old as clubs have been hit hard by the pandemic.
Stats via Whoscored