If one of his recent tweets, Bild Sport journalist Christian Falk shared an update on Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck. The versatile defensive ace has emerged as a transfer target for Liverpool, intending to succeed Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the backline.
The 33-year-old Dutch centre-back will be out of contract this summer. Despite prolonged negotiations, his future is still up in the air along with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“I have no idea. I still have no idea at the moment. Genuinely. I have no idea at the moment. It is not on hold. Nothing on hold. There’s just … I keep saying the same thing. At the moment, I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face.”
Told Van Dijk in his post-match interview following the Reds’ heartbreak against PSG in the Champions League Round of 16. The high-flying Parisians scripted a sensational comeback at Anfield, overcoming first leg disappointment and knocked the league phase winners out via penalty shootout. They exposed the limitations of the Liverpool squad, including their lack of depth and quality in the defensive third.
Schlotterbeck spent his youth years at SG Weinstadt, Stuttgarter Kickers, VfR Aalen, Karlsruher SC and SC Freiburg before breaking into the latter’s reserve team. He was soon promoted to their senior side but was sent out on loan to Union Berlin for regular gametime. After an impressive 2021-22 season for the Breisgau-Brasilianer, Dortmund splashed €25m to secure the services of the rising Bundesliga sensation.
The 25-year-old Die Mannschaft international has been a regular both for his club and the country, having exhibited his versatility in various roles. While he primarily operates as a left-sided centre-back, the hybrid left-back role also suits his style of play.
Why Liverpool Must Snap Up Schlotterbeck
Although Van Dijk has been immense for years, the Merseysiders must find a long-term replacement for their charismatic skipper. Joe Gomez could not cement a starting spot due to persistent injury problems, and the downfall of Andy Robertson has exposed their frailty on the left. Kostas Tsimikas has been below-par as the understudy to the veteran Scotsman, also, Jarell Quansah, irrespective of his high ceilings, is not ready yet to feature week in, week out across competitions.
Schlotterbeck still has more than two years left in his BVB contract. The German giants wish to give him a new contract, however, the defender might opt for a fresh challenge amid the uncertainty over European football. The Prussians, currently tenth in the Bundesliga standings, are unlikely to retain their Champions League status unless they defy the odds and win this year’s competition. This might work in favour of Liverpool even though the priority should be tying Van Dijk down on a new deal beyond this season.
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