Premier League giants Liverpool are reportedly ready to pay nearly €60 million to land 25-year-old German centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
According to a report by Sacha Tavolieri on Sky Sport Switzerland, Nico Schlotterbeck is the subject of interest from Liverpool. Borussia Dortmund will demand €60 million to part ways with the German international in the summer transfer window. The Reds are ready to meet the Bundesliga club’s valuation, although they want to pay a base fee of around €50 million to seal the deal.
Nico Schlotterbeck and his career so far
Nico Schlotterbeck has been one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga for nearly half a decade. A native of Waiblingen, he spent his formative years in Germany and passed through the academies at five clubs in his homeland while graduating from the youth division at SC Freiburg.
The 25-year-old rose in prominence after establishing a foothold in the first-team squad at SC Freiburg before earning a move worth €20 million to Borussia Dortmund in July 2022. Since then, Schlotterbeck has come leaps and bounds, establishing himself as a pivotal figure for the Bundesliga giants.
The German international has turned out over 100 times thus far for Borussia Dortmund while chipping in with six goals and 14 assists. Meanwhile, Schlotterbeck’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Liverpool will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the summer transfer window.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Liverpool’s interest in Nico Schlotterbeck is understandable. The Reds are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding Virgil van Dijk’s long-term future. The Dutch defender has entered the final few months of his contract and might leave Liverpool as a free agent.
Even if the veteran Dutchman remains at Anfield, the Reds need a long-term successor, considering he is approaching the twilight of his career. So, Schlotterbeck has emerged as a viable target for Liverpool, with the Merseyside outfit ready to meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of €60 million.
However, the Reds do not want to pay a base fee of around €60 million and will instead propose an initial payment of €50 million and add bonuses worth €10 million. So, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can convince Borussia Dortmund to part ways with the 25-year-old German international for that arrangement in the summer transfer window.
