---
title: "Liverpool: Reds may encounter issues signing Ozan Kabak for key reason"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-reds-may-encounter-issues-signing-ozan-kabak-for-key-reason/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nathan Linley"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2021-02-01T12:35:05Z"
modified: "2021-02-01T12:35:05Z"
---

# Liverpool: Reds may encounter issues signing Ozan Kabak for key reason

**Liverpool have been linked with a last-gasp move to sign Schalke defender Ozan Kabak.**

### Kabak to Anfield?

The 20-year-old has been [heavily linked](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-news-transfers-rumours-kabak-19001949) with a move to Anfield for a number of months in light of [Dejan Lovren’s move to Zenit St Petersburg](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53556646) before the summer window closed in October.

However, no-one could have predicted the injury crisis that was to come for Jurgen Klopp’s side, with [all four central defensive options out injured](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/423915-lfc-injury-update-joel-matip-and-fabinho) and without an established player at his disposal.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”343638″\]

According to [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12205212/ozan-kabak-transfer-liverpool-racing-to-agree-deal-for-schalke-centre-back), Liverpool are putting measures in place to bring the 20-year-old to Merseyside, with a reported loan fee of £2.5m until the end of the season, and he has even been spotted heading for a medical, via [Sky Sports](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1356209522579279874).

But the issue that Klopp could have is that Germany’s transfer deadline closes at 5pm ([Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12205212/ozan-kabak-transfer-liverpool-racing-to-agree-deal-for-schalke-centre-back)), as opposed to 11 pm in England, which puts the Reds at risk of missing out if they do not react briskly.

### Transfer Tavern Verdict

It seems like the injuries to Fabinho and Joel Matip before and during Liverpool’s [3-1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55744293) win over Tottenham have triggered this response from Liverpool, despite [The Athletic](https://theathletic.co.uk/2302534/2021/01/07/liverpool-transfers-football-soccer/) suggesting earlier in the month that they were keen to stay put with what they have.

Valued at £22.5m by [TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/profil/spieler/361260), Kabak is having a tricky season with Schalke and has only won [once](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/leistungsdaten/spieler/361260) in the Bundesliga in [14 starts](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/leistungsdaten/spieler/361260) this season. But despite this, Kabak still has clubs queuing up for his services.

Whether this will be a good move for Liverpool, remains to be seen. Looking at how his side has performed with his involvement, it suggests that it might not be. Nevertheless, time will tell if he can improve under Klopp.

*In other news, **[Jurgen Klopp happy to let 6 ft 2 defender leave despite centre-back injury crisis.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours/liverpool-jurgen-klopp-happy-to-let-sepp-van-den-berg-leave-during-january-window/)***