---
title: "Schalke manager claims ex-Reds defender played crucial part in Ozan Kabak transfer"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/schalke-manager-claims-philipp-degen-has-crucial-role-ozan-kabak-transfer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-02-12T17:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-12T17:00:00Z"
---

# Schalke manager claims ex-Reds defender played crucial part in Ozan Kabak transfer

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/02/12/fabinho-ruled-out-of-leicester-game-with-muscle-injury/)‘s deadline day capture of Turkish defender [Ozan Kabak](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/02/09/ozan-kabak-expected-liverpool-debut-v-leicester-claims-james-pearce/) was initiated by the defender’s former club Schalke 04, according to their manager Christian Gross.

As reported by Swiss publication [Blick](https://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/international/bundesliga/jetzt-spricht-schalke-trainer-christian-gross-in-der-schalke-kabine-stehen-basler-laeckerli-id16343407.html), Gross has claimed that they offered the 20-year-old to the Premier League champions, with former Reds full-back Philipp Degen at the forefront of the negotiations. The ex-Tottenham manager explained:

> He (Degen) is super networked in football. Without him, Mustafi would not have come to us. He came because Philipp called Jürgen Klopp. Because Philipp knew that Liverpool were looking for a central defender.
>
> He asked whether Liverpool was interested in Ozan Kabak – so Philipp knew that Schalke could possibly give Kabak to Liverpool.

Having [been linked](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-van-dijk-kabak-19162711) with the central defender long before the loan deal was completed, it seems a little surprising that Liverpool did not initiate contact with the player as they desperately scrambled for reinforcements.

As we wait for the Turkey international to make his debut, having [watched on from the bench](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3429717) as Jurgen Klopp’s side capitulated against Manchester City last weekend, Kabak has won [64% of his headers](https://www.sofascore.com/player/ozan-kabak/857740) this season, higher than [Virgil van Dijk’s return](https://www.sofascore.com/player/virgil-van-dijk/151545) prior to his injury.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Irrespective of whoever instigated Kabak’s arrival on Merseyside, we can all just be thankful that he made the move, given the [relentless injury woes](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-injury-news-latest-list-alisson-thiago-alexander-arnold-robertson-henderson-780156) endured by the Reds this season.

Given Degen’s rather [inauspicious playing career at Anfield](https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/1198), his hand in helping the Reds sign a much-needed defender may perhaps be his finest act for the club.