Liverpool are one of the clubs reported to be ‘interested’ in Borussia Mönchengladbach defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria, according to Sport Bild (via Sport Witness).
The 24-year-old only returned from a nine-month layoff in November after suffering a serious knee injury last March and has since struggled to recapture his best form.
A recent leading role in Mönchengladbach’s 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund showed signs of a return to what the report cited as the Swiss international’s ‘undisputed class‘.
Bild claimed that, with the midfielder’s contract due to expire in 2022, the Bundesliga side may be forced to cash in soon, and a ‘transfer is on the way this summer’ should they be unable to persuade Zakaria to extend his stay.
Previously, both Manchester-based Premier League clubs have been touted with an interest in the midfielder described as ‘enormously valuable’ by German football legend Gunter Netzer.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
A fee of around £45m has been mooted as enough to sign the Swiss star, although Liverpool’s chief negotiators will be keen to chip away at that figure.
Given how well Fabinho has performed as central defensive cover this term, Jurgen Klopp may well be seriously considering keeping the Brazilian in the backline.
This would leave a vacancy at the base of the Liverpool midfield – one which Zakaria, a teammate of Reds winger Xherdan Shaqiri at international level, could feasibly fill.
The defensive midfield duo have already been measured up against one another and Zakaria’s statistics stood up admirably.
