Liverpool are reportedly moving away from pursuing Nico Schlotterbeck as things stand, which could boost Borussia Dortmund’s chances of keeping him.
According to Sport Bild via Sport Witness, Liverpool could abandon their chase of Nico Schlotterbeck for reasons unknown. The Merseysiders were leaning towards pursuing the German international ahead of January, but the decision from the Reds could boost Borussia Dortmund’s chances of keeping him.
Liverpool had plans to bring in a new defender in January, having failed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day of the summer window. Their failure with the Crystal Palace man in addition to the season-ending ACL injury to summer arrival Giovanni Leoni, has left Arne Slot short of options at the back.
Hence, a central defender is imperative as Liverpool have set their sights on a few names in the market. One of those is Nico Schlotterbeck, with the Borussia Dortmund star coming into the final 18 months of his deal a the club, which may open up a chance for clubs to approach.
Liverpool had been angling for a January move, but the report states, they are seemingly leaning towards abandoning the chase. The 26-year-old Bundesliga defender is certainly a big-name presence in the market for defenders.
The reasons for Liverpool cooling their interest remain unclear, but it might be about other options being available, such as Guehi, for instance. On paper, the Merseysiders’ backing away could boost Borussia Dortmund’s chances of keeping him for longer than his current deal, but things are still complicated for the German giants about the 26-year-old Bundesliga defender.
What’s next for Nico Schlotterbeck?
The report states that Schlotterbeck is demanding a significant salary increase to commit his future at Dortmund, although there’s no decision forthcoming from the club at the moment. While they have been trying to get him to sign a new deal, Liverpool’s backing away could boost their chances, although there are other clubs in the mix.
Bayern Munich are one of those keen, while there’s further interest from the Premier League, as the pressure is truly on Dortmund to make their decision. Schlotterbeck is expected to evaluate all the offers on the table before making e decision on the future, which might also include staying at Dortmund.