Ozan Kabak is likely to leave Schalke 04 this summer following their humiliating relegation to Bundesliga 2 last season.
The 21-year-old Turkey international was actually loaned out to Liverpool last January amidst the Anfield club’s centre-back crisis following long-term injuries for Virgin van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and did relatively well considering the void he had to fill in Jurgen Klopp’s starting 11, averaging 2.1 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and three clearances per game.
At present Leicester City are the bookie’s favourites to sign Kabak from Schalke, as the Foxes are looking for a replacement for Wes Morgan who retired at the end of last season, as well as a potential long-term successor to Jonny Evans, as the reliable Northern Irishman is 33-years-old.
A potential decisive factor in Kabak possibly signing for the Foxes is that he could be lined up alongside fellow Turkey international Çağlar Söyüncü at the King Power Stadium which might help the 21-year-old settle in at the club.
The addition of Kabak would certainly provide a lot of competition for places in the Foxes squad and with the former Liverpool loanee being rumoured for an available fee of £8.5m, this is an opportunity that many clubs will not want to miss as the Turk has good potential which could see him have a high resale value in future years.
Liverpool are next up on this list of clubs that are rumoured to be interested in Kabak having had the 21-year-old on loan last season.
The Anfield club reportedly turned down the chance to sign Kabak for £8.5m upon the expiry of his loan deal, but there is a chance that they’ll still come back for the Turkish man, as new signing Ibrahima Konate and Cameroonian defender Joel Matip are both injury prone, as since the start of the 2019/20 season from RB Leipzig man Konate has missed 45 games due to injury, compared to Matip’s 65 in the same time period.
Kabak did relatively well in his nine league appearances for the Anfield club in what was a tough time to join Klopp’s side due to their plundering league form and due to the cheap price tag set by Schalke and being a cheap option for defensive cover, this could be a good move to make.
Liverpool have the odds of 4/1 to re-sign Kabak for the upcoming 2021/22 Premier League season.
The next team on this list of clubs that are interested in Kabak is Crystal Palace who are looking to build a new squad whilst lowering the average age and following the release of 22 players following the expiry of their contracts this summer, Kabak could be a valuable option at such a cheap fee and being just 21-years old.
At present, the only centre-back under contract at Selhurst Park is James Tomkins whose deal expires next year, as does Cheikhou Kouyate’s, with the latter often finding himself played at the heart of the Eagles defence due to injuries to several first-team regulars. Kabak would provide a good option for Palace’s first team and this move could be very beneficial to the 21-year-old as he would likely get first-team football on a regular basis.
Palace are priced at 6/1 to sign the Turkey centre-back in the current transfer window.
The final club on this list of sides that have been linked with a move for Kabak is Newcastle United.
Steve Bruce’s team have five centre-backs in their squad at present, but this is due to Frenchman Florian Lejeune returning from his loan spell at Deportivo Alaves, whilst the likes of Federico Fernandez is now 32-years-old and coming towards the autumn of his career.
The Magpies have been known to love a bargain in recent years and with Kabak supposedly available for the price tag that has been suggested above, there would be no reason for Newcastle not to go for the Turkey international as it would be a young talented defender to introduce into their squad that will have a high resale value if he reaches his full potential.
Newcastle are priced at 6/1 to sign the 21-year-old centre back from Schalke.