Liverpool have been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, but they have now reportedly been dealt a possible blow.
Centre-back has to be a big area of focus for the Reds when the summer transfer window arrives, even though Jeremy Jacquet is already joining from Rennes.
Virgil van Dijk can’t go on forever, even though he will hopefully remain at Liverpool for another few years, and it is far from guaranteed that Ibrahima Konate will sign a contract extension.
Meanwhile, Joe Gomez may also move on to pastures new with one year remaining on his current deal, and Giovanni Leoni is still out with ACL damage.
Schlotterbeck has been mentioned as a leading centre-back option for Liverpool this summer, but according to BILD [via Caught Offside], he would prefer to join Real Madrid instead.
Dortmund want up to £43.4m for the 26-year-old, who is likely to be a key starter for Germany at the 2026 World Cup later this year.
Schlotterbeck must be a leading target for Liverpool
This update isn’t exactly a positive one from a Liverpool perspective, especially at a time when on-field matters aren’t helping the mood of the fanbase.
The lure of Real Madrid is clearly huge for many players, as Trent Alexander-Arnold showed last year, so it is easy to see why Schlotterbeck would like the idea of playing there.
Liverpool should be viewing him as a wonderful option whose signature they must try and pip Madrid to, though, with former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann speaking of his admiration for him in the past:
“Schlotterbeck still has the odd mistake or two too many in his game, but he’s currently keeping Niklas Süle out of the team and left-footed central defenders like him are something you look for all over the world. He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now.”
Schlotterbeck is a top-quality central defender in and out of possession, averaging 2.4 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, as well as completing 90% of his passes in the competition.
At 26, he is also an experienced player, but has the luxury of being young enough to improve further as a footballer for years to come, hopefully at Liverpool.