For Ozan Kabak, the international break could not come soon enough.
If anyone needed two weeks to clear his head, it is Schalke’s Turkish prospect (Mail).
The 20-year-old is one the exciting young centre-halves on the radar of a Liverpool side aiming to compensate for the loss of Virgil van Dijk during the January transfer window. But, while Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano have endured the odd sticky patch in recent weeks, that is nothing compared to Kabak’s struggles in Gelsenkirchen.
Kabak has only played three of Schalke’s first eight Bundesliga games this season due to injury.
But, in every one of those three matches, he has conceded a penalty kick. That remarkable trend continued during Friday’s 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Mainz as he clattered into the back of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta inside the area.
Mateta stroked home the resulting spot-kick as Kabak held his head in his hands, wondering yet again what he had done.
This was Kabak’s first appearance since September. However, while Liverpool obviously see something special in him, those mistakes are becoming impossible to ignore.
The former Galatasaray starlet looked all at sea as Bayern Munich cruised to an 8-0 win on opening day before being sent for an early bath during the 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen a week later.
This weekend, Schalke’s winless run extended to 23 matches while no team in Bundesliga history has ever conceded more goals at this stage of the season.
Kabak, for all this talents, has certainly played his part in a start to the campaign which has been historic in all the worst ways.
BILD report that Schalke may be willing to sell for £18 million despite a £40 million release clause in the defender’s contract. Even at half-price, Kabak has work to do to prove he is the man for Liverpool.
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