Defender’s lofty demands likely to ward off suitors after Liverpool snub
Defender Ozan Kabak will reportedly demand huge wages from any Premier League club wanting to sign him during the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old spent the second half of the 2020-2021 campaign on loan at Liverpool to cover for their defensive woes. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez spent much of the season on the sidelines. And manager Jurgen Klopp opted to recruit Kabak from German club Schalke.
It was a loan deal with an option to buy for £18m and it seemed as though the Reds were keen. But Ibrahima Konate’s impending arrival plus the return of the injured trio means they no longer need the Turkey international.
He is set to return to Schalke but has ambitions to play in the Premier League. Leicester City is one club that has been mentioned in connection with the youngster.
Brendan Rodgers will be looking to strengthen after just missing out on the Champions League once again. But, despite the Bundesliga outfit placing a relatively low price on his head, the former Galatasaray stopper will not lower his demands.
The Sun are suggesting that Kabak is after an £80,000-a-week contract to move back to England’s top division. That is an ambitious aim for such a young player.
It remains to be seen if anyone is prepared to pay that amount. It was reported by The Athletic earlier this week that Newcastle United had been ‘offered’ the starlet.
There has been no news from St James’ Park on whether they are keen but it is unlikely the Magpies would match those demands.
Kabak needs reality check
Kabak performed well for Liverpool, making nine top-flight starts for the Anfield giants. However, it seems as though he was only ever going to be a stop-gap.
Ben Davies was also signed in January as cover for injuries but neither are likely to have Merseyside futures. Kabak may have to return to Germany but Schalke have been relegated from the Bundesliga.
They will be looking to jettison their high earners and plan for life outside of the elite. The former Stuttgart player will be attractive to Premier League clubs after his displays for Liverpool.
But he may well have to rethink his personal terms or risk being forced to play in Bundesliga 2.
The link to Newcastle seems weak as the report only states that he has been ‘offered’. There is also the uncertainty over the club’s ownership clouding any recruitment plans.
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