Liverpool are interested in signing Schalke youngster Malick Thiaw, according to journalist Ronan Murphy on Twitter, who cites Sport1 as the source.
The 18-year-old centre-back is currently captain of Schalke’s U19s, but has also managed one brief Bundesliga appearance this season.
Thiaw reportedly has a €7.5 million release clause in his contract that the Reds may need to meet.
Murphy adds that Schalke remain hopeful that the defender will extend his stay at the club, however, ignoring the Reds’ advances.
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With Dejan Lovren looking as though he could move on this summer, a new fourth-choice centre-back will be a necessity for Jurgen Klopp. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all undisputed key figures, but having someone else to fill in will be important.
Thiaw is hugely inexperienced, but he could come in as a fringe player, possibly batting with fellow youngsters Ki-Jana Hoever and Sepp van den Berg for a place in regular matchday squads.
At 18, he would be a work in progress, but his long-term potential is great and his likeness to Matip, in terms of stature and style, could suggest Klopp sees him as a replacement further down the line.
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