Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Considering Move for Schalke Centre-Back

It’s a good thing that transfer rumours can exist in absolutely any conditions, because at least we have something to talk about. Per the Sunday Mirror—a source of dubious reputation, but one that pretty much everyone is willing to consider reliable for any football news please—Liverpool have been scouting Schalke centre-back, Malick Thiaw for a while now and are planning to make a move soon.

Thiaw has largely seen action with the Schalke youth team, with most of his senior team experience coming from friendlies and a single minute in the Bundesliga (thanks for that stat, 90’). The 18-year-old has a £7m release clause, which seems high given the lack of first team experience, but who’s to say in these dark times. What we can say is that this rumour seems far more likely a ploy by the player’s agent to negotiate a better deal than Liverpool being ready to swoop in on yet another Schalke defender.

Of course, because of the Schalke connection, everyone and their mother is trying to draw comparisons with our very own Joel Matip who, if you remember, was a free transfer.

“In a world of big transfer fees, to sign a player like Joel Matip on a free transfer is incredible,” Klopp had said earlier this season. “It was maybe one of the best pieces of business we did in the last few years.”

Does this mean that Klopp and FSG are in the market for some more excellent deals? Maybe. Will it mean Thiaw is headed to Anfield anytime soon? Unlikely.