Liverpool are rife with rumours as credible sources expect a big window for Liverpool this summer.
A top class German defender is the most recent of these rumours, even touted as a possible replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool's rumour mill is in overdrive with the promise of transfers following last summer's quiet window. Arne Slot may have expected to have been allowed to bring in some of his own players once he stepped in to the sizable shoes of Jurgen Klopp last summer.
Liverpool might be ready to make a splash signing
The Dutchman had to settle for just the two including Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili - who was sent immediately back on loan to the Spanish side.
The other signing was winger Federico Chiesa, who has failed to make any impact at all and has really struggled for both fitness and minutes.
Slot to his credit has worked wonders with the players he inherited, including significant improvements to players such as Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Although he is all but certain to become a Premier League winning manager, Slot will definitely have areas of the pitch he will want to improve.
Although perhaps not a major priority, Liverpool will always have space for defenders. Virgil van Dijk, whilst magnificent this season, still has contract issues and as of this article, is still available to leave on a free at the end of the season.
Should he stay, it is still widely thought that Liverpool need another one or two in defensively areas, largely due to several of their defenders being injury prone.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate have had more than one injury this season, with all four of them possibly missing the weekend's Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle.
Nico to the Rescue?
German defender Nico Schlotterbeck is highly regarding in Germany and indeed the whole of Europe. The twenty-five year old has spent his entire career in Germany, for Freiberg, Union Berlin and currently Borussia Dortmund.
Schlotterbeck's main strengths are in his physical attributes, particularly with his six-foot-three-inch frame. The defender possesses pace far beyond his impressive height and is one of the best tacklers in the modern game.
During Dortmund's superb season last year, in which they were Champions League finalists, Nico had the highest tackle success rate in the Bundesliga and one of the highest in Europe full stop. He also is a two time member of the Bundesliga Team of the Season.
As well as being a regular for one of the best sides in Europe, Schlotterbeck is now a full international, likely to get his 20th cap for Germany at the end of this month.
This is a progression from his time with the Germany U21s, where he and his teenage countrymen won the UEFA European Under 21 Championship.
Nico is unlikely to be on the mega cheap side, with a few years remaining on his contract with Dortmund, but he is likely to be extremely interested should a move to Anfield become a possibility.
In closing, whilst it may be just one of many rumours that will come and go, Liverpool should absolutely consider the talented German defender, who I believe would firmly become a fan favourite at Anfield.