Newcastle offered summer deal for unwanted Liverpool stop-gap

Ozan Kabak Jurgen Klopp Nat Phillips TEAMtalk

Newcastle United will be offered the chance to sign Liverpool loan defender Ozan Kabak, according to a report.

Kabak arrived in a last-minute loan deal in January to help out a Liverpool rearguard decimated by injuries. The 21-year-old did a steady job for Jurgen Klopp but injuries meant he played only nine times, including four victories. While Liverpool have yet to officially announce whether the Turkey international is heading back to the Bundesliga, it’s widely believed that will be the case.

The Independent has aid that “Kabak’s loan deal will not be made permanent despite the Turkey international performing admirably under taxing circumstances”.

Kabak is available for £18m. And The Athletic claim he will be offered to Newcastle as they look for a centre-back.

A deal though is “unlikely” with Newcastle unlikely to splash out such a fee on a player with very little Premier League experience.

Kabak is looking to stay in the Premier League after enjoying his six-month spell in England.

Kabak told The Times (via Liverpool Echo): “It’s Liverpool. Of course I want to stay. 

“These five months have been very valuable for my career, my personality. I have met with very good people, very good footballers.”

Klopp is understood to have appreciated Kabak’s efforts, but he was only ever a stop-gap signing, alongside Ben Davies in January.


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Konate release clause

Liverpool are expected to pursue a move for Ibrahima Konate instead, leaving Kabak to find another home.

Leicester have also been linked with the player.

The Independent suggest that Kabak is a target for Leicester City as they look for a replacement for Wes Morgan, who has retired.

Konate meanwhile, has a release clause €40m (£34.7m) and Liverpool are on the verge of activating that. Fabrizio Romano reported recently that “it seems only a matter of time” before Konate becomes a Red.

And now Liverpool’s qualification for the Champions League has enabled them to push on with plans to secure their primary target.

Melissa Reddy from The Independent says talks with the player’s agent, Jonathan Barnett have taken place. And a deal in principle is believed to have been struck. But now the guaranteed income from UEFA in 2021/22 means Michael Edwards can make a down payment to secure the €40m deal for the 22-year-old.

Konate is currently on international duty for France’s Under-21 side. He will be hoping to line-up in Les Bleus’ European Championship quarter-final clash with Holland on Monday evening.

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