West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool are among the clubs who have been linked with Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Sclotterbeck.
A defender linked with a move to Liverpool is almost certain to depart his current club in the summer transfer window.
The Reds are expected to be in the market for a new centre-back next year. The failure to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace during last summer’s transfer market was well documented. After agreeing a £35 million fee and Guehi undergoing a medical, Palace pulled the plug in the 11th hour.
Liverpool remain keen on Guehi but it remains to be seen whether they will make a renewed move in January. And with the England international’s Palace contract expiring at the end of the season, he is likely to attract several more suitors as he’ll be available on a free transfer.
Schlotterbeck transfer latest
Schlotterbeck’s current deal at Dortmund expires in 2027. According to German newspaper BILD sports editor Henning Feindt, Schlotterbeck will not renew his contract at BVB despite being tabled an offer. In addition, he will only stay at Dortmund beyond the end of the campaign if ‘no club comes along in the summer that really appeals to him’.
Liverpool are not the only club who are said to admire Schlotterbeck. German champions Bayern Munich are supposed admirers, as well as La Liga giants Barcelona.
Spanish outlet SPORT claims that Dortmund currently value Schlotterbeck at around £40 million. In addition, it’s suggested that BVB ‘would prioritize a move abroad over strengthening a direct rival like Bayern’. It’s also reported that Scholtterbeck would be willing to pursue a project outside Germany if a winning offer comes in from Barcelona or a Premier League club’.
Will Liverpool make a move for Schlotterbeck?
Liverpool are currently short of options at the back, with Giovanni Leoni suffering an ACL injury on his debut in September after his £26 million transfer from Parma. Leoni, who was signed with an eye towards the medium and long term, will not play again this campaign.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Ibrahima Konate. The France international sees his Anfield contract come to a conclusion at the end of the campaign. Konate has still to commit his future although a potential free transfer to Real Madrid appears to be going cold.
"It’s clear we think about it,” Konate said last month. “But what’s complicated is that we can’t say everything because there’s a lot of things being said in the media. Sometimes I see things and I’m like, ‘oh la la’, and it gets me into trouble with the Liverpool fans even though they don’t know all the ins and outs. Anyway, I hope and I know that in any case the most important thing is that I’m happy."
In addition, Liverpool will eventually need to find a long-term successor for Virgil van Dijk. The Reds captain sees his deal expired in 2027 when he will be aged 35.
Continue Reading