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According to reports, Liverpool is “very interested” in the signing of the center of Borussia Dortmund, Nico Schlotterbeck as a possible successor of Virgil van Dijk.
The German international could be ready to leave Dortmund in the summer along with a series of teammates if European football is lost.
It has been a disaster season for the finalists of the last season champions, who feel tenth in the Bundesliga, but Schlotterbeck has been praised as a leadership figure.
It is said that Liverpool is willing to pay around £ 42 million for the 25 -year -old, whose contract expires in 2027, according to Image report.
That would make him his second most expensive defender, behind the £ 75 million they paid for Van Dijk in 2018.
Reds must plan the future in the central defense with Van Dijk's contract in the summer, while Joe Gómez is also seen as a possible candidate to leave.
According to reports, Liverpool is very interested in signing the star of Borussia Dortmund Nico Schlotterbeck
It could be a successor of Kop's favorite, Virgil Van Dijk, whose contract expires in the summer
Even Ibrahima Konate could leave Anfield in the summer because her contract expires in 2026 and it is said that Paris Saint-Germain is interested in him.
Schlotterbeck, which is in 6 feet 3 inches, is in its third season with Dortmund and is one of the backup captains behind the former Liverpool Emre man.
It is believed that he wins around £ 4.2 million per year, according to the Capology, which puts it in line with the medium level winners of Liverpool.
After having started his career with SC Friburg, he spent a loan season with Union Berlin before making the change to the second largest club in Germany.
He has already been named in the Bundesliga team of the season twice, in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Last season it was an instrumental part of the team that reached the final of the Champions League and began at the exhibition event when Dortmund lost 2-0 against Real Madrid.
Liverpool has had good fortune in the recruitment of the Bundesliga during the last decade, collecting success stories such as Roberto Firmino, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Can and Dominik Szoboszlai.
His chances of landing Schlotterbeck depend in part on how Dortmund is in Wednesday's champions league in the last 16 second match against Lille.
Dortmund visits northern France with the score level in 1-1 and crashing at this stage could be the clove in the coffin for the confidence of his stars in the club.
However, if Dortmund can set up another deep race and improve his league form, that could persuade some of his key stars to stay.
Arne Slot assured fans in January that Liverpool is definitely working on summer signings after a mute approach, although effective, for the transfers market during his reign to date.
The club made two additions last summer, bringing Federico Chiesa, who has been absent to a large extent due to an injury, and Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will not join the team until the next period.
'I know that people sometimes question this because they have not seen us do a lot in the transfers market in summer and now in winter too. There is a reason for that, because we are happy with the team, '' he said.
“But I know we are definitely working to strengthen in the summer.”
The Telegraph has reported that the Mersysiders are interested in signing the left side of Bournemouth, Milos Kerkez, who could cost north of £ 40 million.
More to follow.