Jurgen Klopp uses old friend to lure £32m Lovren replacement to Liverpool

Liverpool are reported to have opened talks with Schalke over a deal for defender Ozan Kabak. According to Bild, Jurgen Klopp has identified the £32m-rated centre-half as his No 1 target to replace Dejan Lovren. Lovren is closing on a £10.9m switch to Zenit St Petersburg after six highly-successful years at Anfield. Klopp has wasted little time in moving to secure his replacement in the Reds squad. The Turkey international has previously been linked with both Manchester United and Manchester City. Kabak was available for just £12m last summer after a clause in his contract allowed him to leave then-relegated Stuttgart. However, he was persuaded to join Schalke by incoming new boss David Wagner. Bild claims Klopp and his scouts has watched him extensively and believe he’s the player they have identified. Schalke have put a €35m fee on his head (£31.9m) for the 20-year-old, who has four years left on his deal. Source: teamtalk