Liverpool to sign Schalke defender today
Liverpool are expected to confirm the signing of Schalke centre-half Joel Matip on a free Bosman transfer later today.
Matip’s contract at the German club expires this summer, at which point he will be moving to Anfield. A pre-contract agreement has been under discussion for several months and with talks complete it will ensure the 24-year-old becomes Klopp’s second signing for next season.
Liverpool have already recruited Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade as Klopp’s squad rebuilding starts to take shape.
Matip, a Cameroon international, is versatile enough to play defensive midfielder as well as in the back four, although he has spent most of career in Germany in defence.
His signing is partially to prepare for the departure of Kolo Toure at the end of the current campaign, the Ivory Coast international aware his deal will not be renewed in the summer.
However, Matip is sure to offer competition to Liverpool’s current senior centre-halves, none of whom have made themselves indispensible during the club’s recent troubles.
Liverpool tried to sign Matip in January as Klopp came to terms with a defensive crisis, but Schalke were unwilling to part with the player until the end of the season. That prompted Liverpool into the short-term loan deal for Steven Caulker.
Source: Telegraph
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