Anfield side hope to make Bundesliga defender next summer transfer window addition.
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Liverpool remain keen on securing the signing on Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopolous, even through they brought in Kolo Toure this week, report the Daily Mirror.
Following the retirement of Jamie Carragher, the Reds are looking for a long-term replacement for the defender, with Papadopolous identified as a key target. Papadopolous, 21, would be available for a fee in excess of £16million pounds this summer, with Arsenal also reported in signing the Greek defender.
With the uncertainty surrounding the future of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Sebastien Coates at the club this summer, Brendan Rodgers is looking for some insurance at the back, which could possibly alleviate their problems, and potentially allow them to let one of the three aforementioned players go for a profit this summer which could be reinvested in other areas, such as a deal to sign Henrik Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Papadopolous has been heralded as one of the rising young stars in all of European football over the past few seasons, linked with big-money moves to Manchester United and Barcelona, but has remained at Schalke for the time being. The defender has yet to comment on the speculation, but the allure of the Premier League may entice him over.
Liverpool also remain interested in both Sporting’s Tiago Ilori and Paris St Germain’s Mamadou Sakho, but the asking price of both players remains too high for a bid to be lodged. Sakho looks set to leave PSG in search of more regular game time, following their reported interest in Chelsea defender David Luiz.