Liverpool have rejected the chance to activate Ozan Kabak’s release clause this summer, with Leicester City now eyeing a deal
That’s according to Sport 1 Chief Reporter Patrick Berger, who says a permanent switch to Anfield is now ‘unlikely’.
Kabak has been on loan with Liverpool since the January transfer window when they brought him to the club amid a defensive crisis.
The initial deal included a future purchase clause of €23m and, after a rocky start, it appeared they would take that up as he settled more in the heart of their defence.
However, recent weeks have indicated that Liverpool are not keen on the deal, particularly as they’re seemingly closing in on a deal for RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konaté.
Berger now confirms that is the case, stating that he’s had it confirmed that the Reds have not activated the €23m clause in the loan deal, and a permanent move to Anfield is ‘unlikely’.
As a result, Kabak could be move elsewhere this summer, and he is being ‘targeted’ by both RB Leipzig and Leicester.
Confirmed: Liverpool FC has not activated the €23m release clause for Ozan Kabak. A permanente deal with #LFC is unlikely. The 21-year-old Turkish centre-back is targeted by RB Leipzig and Leicester City. #S04 urgently need to sell him this summer. @ozankabak4
— Patrick Berger (@berger_pj) May 25, 2021
The former, of course, could need a replacement for Konaté, particularly after losing Dayot Upamecano already, while Leicester may need a replacement for the departing Wesley Morgan.
There’s no mention of an asking price at this point, but Berger says that Schalke ‘urgently need’ to sell Kabak this summer.
That suggests there is a deal there to be negotiated, perhaps for a price much lower than the €23m option Liverpool had, which may be what’s tempting the Foxes into a move.
