Liverpool have reportedly given a clause deadline by Schalke. They have until mid-May to decide whether they will be signing Ozan Kabak permanently. The Reds have the option to sign the Turkish international for around £18million at the end of the season, after agreeing on an initial loan deal. Kabak survived a tough start to life at Anfield. But His rich vein of form has only increased his chances of completing a permanent switch to the Premier League champions. Liverpool are set to be closing in on the £34m signing of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig with RMC Sport even claiming that the Frenchman has undergone part of his medical checks in Paris. According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, there has been mixed messages as to whether Liverpool will buy Kabak permanently. "Obviously Liverpool will hope that Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all make a full recovery, although there's no specified date on their returns," Ornstein said on The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast. "They also need to keep an eye on the contract situation with Van Dijk in particular. They are all returning from very serious injuries, which presents no guarantee they will get back to their best, if at all. "So a centre-half would always have been on the agenda, maybe two. That's where the Kabak situation comes into question. Do they pay the option which is £18million plus add-ons, they need to let Schalke know around mid-May. "Some people I speak to suggest he will be sent back, some people I speak to suggest he will be sent back and Liverpool will try to negotiate a cheaper fee than the option. Some people say that won't work because another team will come in and pay a higher fee for Kabak, who has impressed to an extent at Liverpool, playing seven games on the trot, 90 minutes, playing for Turkey in a very successful World Cup qualification campaign so far. And he will be going to the Euros, so I really don't know if they will go for Kabak as well." Ornstein also highlighted that the addition of Kabak was an example of Liverpool thinking on their feet. "Of course he was not in the grander plan, it was a make-do signing that Liverpool very skilfully got on loan with a permanent option in January," he added. "We don't know what's going to happen with the others outside of those premiere names such as Phillips, [Ben] Davies, Rhys Williams, so it could be a very different picture by the time next season kicks off. But the idea of being able to get someone like Konate is something that is surely too good to turn down."
Source: Express/ *Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!