Liverpool confirmed the signing of 20-year-old Schalke defender Ozan Kabak on Deadline Day as Jurgen Klopp desperately tried to bolster his defensive options amid an injury crisis.
Liverpool fans will be ecstatic to see they wont have Jordan Henderson moving back to centre-back to help out fellow midfielder Fabinho after Fabrizio Romano confirmed the transfer on Twitter on February 1st.
Ozan Kabak from Schalke to Liverpool, here we go! 🔴 #LFC
Agreement reached between clubs after medicals and personal terms completed. The deal will be on loan with buy option and NO obligation, €30m as potential final fee. 5-years contract [if they will buy him]. #DeadlineDay
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 1, 2021
Tweet courtesy of Fabrizio Romano via Twitter
Romano originally reported that deal would only be costing Liverpool €1.5m but further news coming out has revealed that he will cost the red €2.5m and if they want to buy the young defender it will set them back €30m on a 5-year deal.
Liverpool could choose to activate this clause if their three centre-backs continue to battle with niggles and long term injuries.
More about Kabak. Loan fee will be higher than €1.5m [around €2.5m] with option to buy for €30m. Liverpool never considered to sign him on a permanent deal/obligation to buy. Mustafi joins Schalke as replacement. Braga turned down 2 bids from #LFC for Carmo. 🔴 #DeadlineDay https://t.co/VGTlzL2knJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 1, 2021
Tweet courtesy of Fabrizio Romano via Twitter
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website manager Jurgen Klopp described the 20-year-old as: “a big, big talent and we are really looking forward to working with him.”
Klopp went on to say: “He is only 20 now. He plays in his second club [in Germany]; he is at Schalke and unfortunately they are in a bad position in the moment.
For him, I think it’s a really good moment to make the move because, like each player in the world, you need a stable team around you and that’s what we can deliver.
“We deliver a stable team and you can play your position, you don’t have to be 20 with pretty much everything on the pitch and not allowed to make mistakes anymore.”