Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Hoffenheim defender Fabian Schar, but may have to wait until the summer to swoop.
According to The Daily Star, the Bundesliga outfit are not interested in parting company with the Swiss ace in January, and so will look to keep hold of him for the remainder of the campaign.
The report goes on to add that Liverpool scouts were sent out to watch Schar in action during the recent international break, with suggestions that Arsenal have also previously been keen on signing him.
Nevertheless, he remains under contract with Hoffenheim until 2019, and although it’s stated by The Star that Liverpool are confident about their chances of a deal being agreed, it will arguably take a significant fee to prise him away with early suggestions that he is valued at around £9m.
Schar won three Swiss league titles during his time with Basel, and it’s claimed in the report that Jurgen Klopp is a fan of his talents as the German tactician looks to bolster his defensive options.
Liverpool finally kept their first clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw with rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Monday night, eight games into the Premier League campaign.
Having conceded 10 goals in those opening seven games, Klopp has a task on his hands to plug the gaps in his backline in order to combine that with the attacking talent he has at his disposal in order to ensure the Reds are genuine title contenders this year.
However, should the above stick with Hoffenheim keen to keep Schar until the summer, Klopp may well have to look elsewhere in January if he feels he requires more immediate reinforcements.