--- title: "Virals: Ozan Kabak assessed as Liverpool weigh up permanent transfer" canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-ozan-kabak-assessed-as-liverpool-weigh-up-permanent-transfer/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Dan Clubbe" section: "Liverpool News" published: "2021-04-29T12:00:00Z" modified: "2021-04-29T12:00:00Z" --- # Virals: Ozan Kabak assessed as Liverpool weigh up permanent transfer Following some early settling in issues, [Ozan Kabak](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/04/17/virals-ozan-kabak-compilation-highlights-defenders-potential/) has proven to be an impressive deadline day loan signing for [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/04/29/micah-richards-lauds-fabinho-as-number-one-defensive-midfielder/). The Turkish central defender put the [travails](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/german-bundesliga/story/4245719/bundesligas-record-breaking-losers-beg-schalke-not-to-break-winless-record) of the first half of his campaign with Schalke and an early [mistake](https://talksport.com/football/833924/ozan-kabak-liverpool-chaotic-defence-jurgen-klopp-leicester/) in Red behind him to earn a reasonable average [Sofascore rating of 6.78](https://www.sofascore.com/player/ozan-kabak/857740) from nine Premier League outings. Having shown dramatic improvements in a short period, Jurgen Klopp and co must now weigh up whether they want to activate a [reported £18m clause](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1423237/Liverpool-transfer-news-Ozan-Kabak-Ibrahima-Konate-gossip-latest-update) to make the move permanent this summer. As the Reds edge closer to the [signing of RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/media-watch/432227-liverpool-set-to-sign-ibrahima-konate-for-30-5m), Kabak’s Anfield future has perhaps never looked more in doubt. However, data analysis carried out by those at [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2547154/2021/04/29/deceptively-quick-but-keeps-it-safe-in-possession-analysing-whether-liverpool-should-keep-kabak/?source=emp_shared_article) would suggest Liverpool should not pass up the opportunity. > Twitter: Should Liverpool keep Ozan Kabak? > > A closer look at the data would suggest he’s a more than viable option to have a… https://t.co/pcES2N1qwV (@CaoimheSport) The figures suggest Kabak has similarities in [playing style to a certain Virgil van Dijk](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/95408/Show/Virgil-van-Dijk), whilst particular strengths lie within ball retention and link-up play. Meanwhile, defensive instincts also rank highly, with the [10 times-capped Turkish international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/nationalmannschaft/spieler/361260/verein_id/3381) proficient at intercepting attacks, aerial duels and impacting defensive moments. ### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT Given the [horrendous injuries](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/424517-jurgen-klopp-confirms-joel-matip-injury-diagnosis#:~:text=J%C3%BCrgen%20Klopp%20has%20confirmed%20Joel,to%20an%20ankle%20ligament%20injury.&text=Further%20diagnosis%20of%20the%20problem,part%20in%20the%20Reds'%20campaign.) suffered to all three of Liverpool’s frontline central defenders this season – having sufficient options next term could be invaluable. Both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have rather [dubious injury records](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/409317-jurgen-klopp-injury-update-joel-matip-joe-gomez) moreover, whilst van Dijk’s problem was of [such magnitude]() it’s hard to imagine there would be no lasting effects. For those reasons Klopp should be keen to have at least five top-class options at his disposal – one of which should be Kabak.