Ozan Kabak jumped at the chance to join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool when the Premier League champions came calling, Schalke coach Christian Gross said in quotes reported by Kicker.
Not long ago, it looked like a highly-rated Turkey international would not be heading to Anfield after all.
Kabak was linked incessantly with a move to Liverpool late last summer but the trail went cold heading into 2021, despite a relentless series of injuries forcing Klopp to field 12 different centre-back pairings this season alone.
So imagine the surprise when, out of nowhere, the Kabak to Liverpool rumour went into overdrive during the final few hours of the January window.
Once the clock struck 11 on Monday night, both he and Ben Davies were posing for photos on the red half of Merseyside, parachuted in to boost Klopp’s squad ahead of a grueling Premier League title charge.
Yet it should come as no surprise to learn that Kabak jumped at the chance to leave bottom-of-the-table Schalke for a Liverpool side dreaming of domestic and European glory this season.
“When Ozan heard the name Liverpool, he didn’t hesitate long and asked the club to do everything possible to make it work,” said former Tottenham boss Gross, who signed Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal as Kabak’s replacement.
“If he has the opportunity to continue his career at Liverpool, no player will have to think twice.”
It remains to be seen if Kabak can adapt immediately to life at one of the world’s most demanding football clubs.
The 20-year-old had endured a miserable first half of the season at the Veltins Arena; one that began with an 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Bayern Munich.
But, as Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and many more will tell you, the Liverpool manager is a dab hand at turning raw potential into top-class talent.
“The opportunity to train under Kloppo will definitely help him,” Gross added.
The Mail reports that a deal for Kabal could eventually set Liverpool back £19.5 million.
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