Schalke are keen to sign youngster Malick Thiaw to a new deal amid reported interest from Liverpool.
The Reds were linked with making a move for the 18-year-old last month, with the belief that they consider him as the new Joel Matip.
Reports in England had indicated that they were particularly keen because of a €7.5m release clause in his contract, although this was later debunked in Germany.
Nonetheless, Liverpool were thought to be at the front of the queue for the defender, who was also had suitors such as AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Schalke are looking to ward off that interest, though, by signing the 18-year-old up to a new extended deal at the club according to Ruhr Nachrichten.
They explain that Thiaw is in ‘great demand’ at present, but his current deal only runs until 2021.
They want to offer him a professional contract to extend that and presumably shield themselves from the interest in him.
Whether Thiaw is interested in signing a new deal isn’t mentioned, although a report from Arena Napoli had indicated that staying at the club was his primary choice.
That would suggest Liverpool are already facing a fight to convince him and, if their interest is genuine, may want to move sooner rather than later.
