Liverpool sign Ozan Kabak to ease defensive woes, option to buy set at £18m in summer

Defending champions Liverpool have acted late but finally dipped into transfer market on deadline day to solve ir injury crisis. Reds lost centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez to long-term injuries earlier in season, while also confirmed that Joel Matip is also ruled out for rest of season. Having earlier signed Ben Davies from Preston, Jurgen Klopp’s side proceeded to purchase highly-rated Ozan Kabak from Schalke, just hours before transfer deadline.

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Ozan Kabak transfer: Reds sign Schalke centre-back to ease defensive woes

Liverpool intensified ir efforts to land a second centre-back once Matip suffered a recurrence of an ankle ligament injury against Tottenham on Thursday. Having signed Ben Davies from Preston, Reds pursued Schalke's Ozan Kabak. 20-year-old is highly rated by reports in Germany and was linked with a transfer in summer, but move never materialised. However, with Schalke struggling at bottom of Bundesliga, Liverpool were able to reach a compromise. Turkish international joins for an initial six-month loan, with defending Premier League champions having an option to make switch permanent in summer.

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Schalke will receive £1 million during Ozan Kabak loan deal, with a furr £500,000 depending on appearances. Liverpool will have option to keep centre-back permanently for £18m in summer. 20-year-old completed formalities of transfer in Germany and was seen arriving at Schalke medical centre hours before deadline. Turkey international was recommended to Reds by former Schalke manr and Jurgen Klopp's friend David Wagner. Former Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel, ar close friend of Klopp's during his time with Mainz recommended 20-year-old's signing. 

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Kabak has cited Virgil van Dijk as his idol and will have to fill in for talismanic Dutch international, who suffered a serious ACL injury earlier this season. Schalke had initially proposed a loan with an obligation to buy due to financial impact of relegation, but Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards rejected offer. Signing Kabak on a permanent deal will only be an option for defending champions once manr Jurgen Klopp evaluates his options in summer. Kabak is a graduate of Galatasaray’s academy, before switching to Bundesliga with Augsburg in 2018 and joined Schalke a year later. Bundesliga strugglers signed Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi on a six-month deal as Kabak's replacement, after World Cup winner had his contract terminated by club. 

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(Im Courtesy: Ozan Kabak Instagram)