Liverpool have long been linked with a move for Nico Schlotterbeck amid a lack of senior centre-back options.
Ahead of 2026/27, there has been a suggestion that Joe Gomez could leave the club.
There has also yet to be an agreement reached for Ibrahima Konate to sign a new contract, meaning he’s currently due to leave for free at the end of June.
You get to add one Nottingham Forest player to Liverpool’s squad, who you picking and why?
Anderson, Murillo, Williams, or somebody else?
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Murillo of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool at City Ground. Neco Williams playing for Nottingham Forest.
Credit: Molly Darlington/ Diego Souto/Copa/Michael Regan/Getty Images
Jeremy Jacquet will join in the summer, and Giovanni Leoni will return from injury, but neither are experienced players.
There is also Virgil van Dijk, now 34, to consider, as he will be in the final 12 months of his contract next term and is likely to need replacing in the near future.
On that front, there has been much talk around Liverpool signing Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s £43m release clause
Dietmar Hamann praised Schlotterbeck previously, calling him ‘one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe’.
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However, the Reds are facing competition for the stopper, with Real Madrid also linked this year.
Now, an update on the situation has emerged from Spanish outlet SPORT.
On the plus side for Liverpool, they say that FC Barcelona don’t plan to get into a bidding war for the player, writing that ‘At the Catalan club, they are clear that their choice will not be the German centre-back’.
They also add that Schlotterbeck has a release clause of around €50m (around £43m).
But Madrid’s interest is said to remain, with it looking like Los Blancos have made the BVB man their top centre-back target.
Got a horrible feeling Slot is going to keep Gakpo in the XI and drop Salah 😬 Who should be the front four vs Forest?
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
Barcelona could sign another player linked to Liverpool
Interestingly, the piece from SPORT adds that Barca have interest elsewhere and are ‘currently trying to approach Bastoni’.
RTK revealed last year that Liverpool had been contacted over a possible Alessandro Bastoni transfer.
It was thought at the time that the Inter Milan defender was keen to secure a move in 2026.
Bastoni has praised Virgil van Dijk this season, but it remains to be seen if the Italian will end up playing alongside the Liverpool skipper at some point in the future.
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