Kabak to Liverpool Imminent After Mustafi Agrees Schalke Terms

Liverpool fans have gotten used to quiet deadline days in recent years, but with the club in desperate need of defensive reinforcements this one is turning out to be rather frantic, with the big emergent story the club’s scramble to sign Ozan Kabak from Scahlke.

That deal was always said to be dependant on Shkodran Mustafi successfully terminating his Arsenal contract and signing a six-month contract with the German club—something that it’s being reported he has now done, paving the way for Liverpool to complete their Kabak deal.

However, one potential sticking point remains, with Schalke and Liverpool in disagreement over whether the purchase option at the end of Kabak’s proposed half-season loan with the Reds should be an obligation or an option.

Reports in recent hours have pinned the purchase option—whether it’s optional or obligational—at anywhere from €20M at the low end to £25M at the high end, and Liverpool are said to be pushing for it to be optional. A loan fee of around £2M is also reportedly in play.

If a deal cannot be agreed, Liverpool reportedly do have back up plans in place as the club intended to sign both Preston’s Ben Davies and a second centre half today.