Liverpool are reportedly interested in Malick Thiaw and have kept regular contact with the Schalke 04 star’s camp with respect to a potential move in the future.
German publication Bild claim Liverpool are interested in Schalke 04 youngster Malick Thiaw. The young defender has been continuously on the radar of the defending Premier League champions for a while now, as per the report, with the Reds’ scouts in constant contact over the defender’s performances and scout reports.
The report further entails that it will be a tough move to pull off for Liverpool, even if they tried and that it could take a huge amount, with Schalke 04 securing Thiaw’s future with a long-term contract that runs till 2024. More importantly, the contract does not contain a release clause, which hands Schalke the bargaining chip in case offers do come in for the defender.
Malick Thiaw isn’t the only Schalke 04 player on Liverpool’s radar. Ozan Kabak, also a defender, is also the subject of interest for the Premier League giants, with Jurgen Klopp looking to delve into the market to cover for the long-term injury to Virgil van Dijk.
Thiaw has broken into the Schalke first-team setup this season and has played two full Bundesliga matches so far. In fact, the 19-year-old’s first senior goal for Schalke was the reason they pocketed a point against Stuttgart, a game that ended with a 1-1 scoreline.
The Schalke youngster has the height and technicality to be a good modern-day defender, with his on-the-ball skills and aerial ability a perfect blend. Thiaw might remind people of a Liverpool recruit from Schalke, Joel Matip, in terms of build and stature.
Liverpool have had to field Fabinho in defence. But, with the Brazilian also on the sidelines now with an injury, Jurgen Klopp opted to field youngster Nathaniel Phillips in central defence. The manager also has Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg at his disposal.
However, he would love to add some quality and depth to the first-team setup, which only features Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk along with a Fabinho who has proven he can get the job done when fielded in that position.
For now, Thiaw will remain a player of interest to Liverpool, who would assess their options before delving into the transfer market. The 19-year-old, though, is unlikely to leave Schalke in January and Liverpool’s need to bring in a central defender in the winter transfer window might just see them go for another option.
