Liverpool preparing to pay initial £20m in January deal for Schalke defender Ozan Kabak

Liverpool preparing to pay initial £20m in January deal for Schalke defender Ozan Kabak

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is likely to have his sights set on a new central defender following the serious injury suffered by Virgil van Dijk against Everton - and the Reds could sign Ozan Kabak from Schalke

Liverpool have opened talks with Schalke over the potential signing of Ozan Kabak.

The 20-year-old has been at the Bundesliga outfit for just over a year after signing from Stuttgart for £13m, and was said to be worth in the region of £40m before the recent pandemic changes matters.

The Turkey international is seen as one of the best defensive prospects in Germany having moved to the country at the age of four, having represented various international age levels since he was 13.

Although an initial fee of £20m might be enough - a further £10m could be needed in instalments.

Ozan Kabak could be on his way to Liverpool from Schalke in January (Image: TF-Images via Getty Images)

The Mirror have reported that Klopp is a fan of Kabak, and he could be brought in as soon as January with Virgil van Dijk not expected to play again until the 2021/22 season.

An initial fee of £20m could be added to by £10m of instalments, despite the previous valuation of £40m.

Klopp said of his star defender this week: “I can understand people are interested in that.

"Virgil was here, he’s OK. But about when the surgery will happen and stuff like this, I don’t think it makes sense that we give pretty much a time schedule every day.

Turkey defender Ozan Kabak could cost in the region of £30m with add-ons (Image: Getty Images)