Shkodran Mustafi holds the key to Ozan Kabak deal

Liverpool wants to get a deal for Schalke man Ozan Kabak over the line, but former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi holds the key!

Give Me Sport have reported that Mustafi could be on his way to Schalke as a replacement for Kabak, which will allow the Turkish defender to join the Reds.

Mustafi has played just 43 minutes of Premier League football for the Gunners, who have brought an end of his expensive time in London.

Arsenal signed him from Valencia for £36.9 million and played 151 games in four years, but that time has now been concluded and he could be on the way back to his native Germany 13 years after he left Hamburg U17 to move to Everton.

Liverpool transfer news: Ozan Kabak deal close

Liverpool is close to sealing the deal for Kabak, said the Echo, on a loan deal that has the option to buy. Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards have tracked the Turkish youngster for some time, and the summer was awash with rumours linking Schalke’s starlet with a move to Merseyside.

He’s an important part of that side, which is why S04 are so insistent that they’ll need a first-team replacement for Kabak. Schalke signed Kabak from Stuttgart for £13.5 million in 2019 and will make a small profit on him.

The Athletic reported that the loan fee for Kabak will be £1 million, with a possible £500,000 bonus, while the obligation to buy is for £18 million.

After the famine, has come the feast. Liverpool also wants to sign Preston North-End defender Ben Davies for a cut-price fee as he’s in the last six months of his contract.

Kabak clearly has potential – he’s played 55 Bundesliga games before he turned 21 and has been a vital part of the Schalke defense since he signed from Stuttgart.

Davies looks more like a low-risk, high-reward situation. Nevertheless, how both progress will be really interesting to watch.