Liverpool could seal a huge swap deal with Borussia Dortmund in January.placeholder image
Liverpool could seal a huge swap deal with Borussia Dortmund in January. | Getty Images
Liverpool may look to the January transfer window to solve multiple key issues
Liverpool could see the dawn of January as an opportunity to regroup and kick on after Christmas, as the Reds’ title defence already looks to be hanging by a thread with leaders Arsenal extending their lead over the champions to eight points.
With the league season far from over yet and the Champions League still up for grabs, there is plenty to fight for in the new year and Arne Slot may look to the winter transfer market to secure the improvements to his side necessary to take key steps towards securing silverware.
The Reds could, therefore, spot a market opportunity to secure a top European defender in January to secure increased competition across the backline, whilst solving another key issue in the process.
Liverpool linked with Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck
According to reports originating from Bild in Germany, Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck could seek an exit from the club as he grows disillusioned with the Black and Yellows’ direction under head coach Nico Kovac.
Reports continue that Schlotterbeck previously rejected a new contract at Dortmund and was recently critical of the club’s style of play under Kovac during a 1-1 draw with Hamburg. With just two years remaining on his current deal, the Bundesliga giants will know that now is the ideal time to sell if they are to avoid losing their star defender for a cut-price fee, or for nothing at all - with a price tag of €40m - €50m (£35m - £44m) cited.
Schlotterbeck and Harvey Elliott swap deal could be huge piece of business and solve multiple Liverpool issues
The future of Harvey Elliott has come into increasing uncertainty in recent weeks, as the Aston Villa loanee has appeared to have been frozen out by Unai Emery. This comes amidst reports that he may not feature for the Villans ever again, as they aim to avoid paying a permanent £35m fee to sign the 22-year-old permanently from Liverpool.
A deadline-day loan move to Villa was supposed to be a huge new start for Elliott, but he took part in a challenging start to the season before finding himself dropped to the bench as Emery’s side have risen up the Premier League table. Rumours of an early January recall for Elliott have already begun to emerge, as he has made just one league start for Villa and has not even made the matchday squad in the last three matches.
The England Under-21 hero’s progress is in doubt if his situation remains as it is, with multiple of Lee Carsley’s victorious squad from last summer already earning call-ups to Thomas Tuchel’s senior side. If he is to depart Villa, Elliott could see Dortmund as the perfect place for him to develop. Young English players have shone at Signal Iduna park for some time - Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho, Jamie Gittens and Carney Chukwuemeka to name just a few - and a fresh start at Dortmund would give Elliott the chance to be a key player and reach the vast potential he is known to have, not allowing himself to be left behind by his England U21 contemporaries.
It may have to be a case of Elliott returning to Liverpool and a deal being struck that would see the attacking midfielder arrive at Dortmund in summer 2026 - as he cannot feature for three clubs in one season - but that could work perfectly for the German side, who are prepared for the possibility that playmaker Julian Brandt may depart when his contract is up next summer. Elliott could be the perfect replacement.
Meanwhile for the Reds, if they can secure Schlotterbeck in the winter he could be a game-changer. The left-footer could step in alongside Virgil van Dijk or in the place of the underperforming Kerkez, and the renewed competition should elevate the levels of all those around him. With both Schlotterbeck and Elliott valued at a similar amount, the Reds and Dortmund could secure a straight swap which would be massive news for all involved.
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