Liverpool left the game at the end of the transfer deadline, but it looks like Jurgen Klopp is about to sign two defenders.
[ MORE: All of the January transfer deals ]
That sound you can hear is Klopp screaming with joy, as he dealt with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip injured this season, while the improvised defender Fabinho also recently suffered an injury.
For the February 1 transfer deadline, you can watch Sky Sports News for free on Peacock from 8am ET, in addition, we will have a special Deadline Day show for download on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm Eastern Time.
We will focus on the two central defenders that Liverpool appear to be signing.
Ben Davies to Liverpool
Ben Davies joined the second-tier Preston North End for a fee that could reach $ 2.1 million. As part of the deal, young Liverpool center-back Sepp van den Berg will also go on loan to Preston until the end of the season.
Davies, 25, is widely considered the best central defender in the league and he has only six months left of his current contract with Preston. He was free to talk to clubs outside England this month about signing a pre-contract and is believed to be signing for Celtic, with Bournemouth also interested.
“It is a great opportunity. Obviously, it was a surprise when it first appeared, but when you start to understand, the opportunity before me is incredible. I would be silly if I didn’t make the most of it and learn from the players [at the club]”Said Davies. “I’m looking forward to going in and playing in front of everyone and showing everyone what I can do. I’m sure a lot of fans and people don’t know [me], or didn’t even see me play. It is definitely an exciting time and I think they will enjoy watching me when I am playing well. “
However, Liverpool made their move and the English central defender must adapt to his style of play very well and is left-handed, which gives them a good balanced option that they have not had since Dejan Lovren left last summer.
Davies is not only an aggressive defender who likes to get out of the defense line to block and block, he also reads the game well and has an impressive range of long passes.
Davies will likely be an update from Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams, the remaining Liverpool defender options, and he is able to join the team. In view of the financial problems, even for a club like Liverpool, this is a very good deal and meets your needs.
Ozan Kabak business for Liverpool under construction
Another defender also appears to be going to Liverpool.
According to our Sky Sports partners in Germany, Ozan Kabak, 20, agreed to join Liverpool on loan (a price of $ 3.4 million was agreed), while Schalke agreed to the terms with an option clause purchase for $ 25 million this summer also thought to have been agreed.
Our partners in Germany also claim that Klopp’s good friend, David Wagner, advised Liverpool to hire the defender. Wagner trained Kabak at Schalke.
Schalke have called on Shkodran Mustafi to replace Kabak, as Arsenal’s central defender would sign a six-month contract as he is out of contract at Emirates Stadium this summer.
Kabak was associated with a transfer to Liverpool in the past and the Turkish international is very promising, but saw his confidence shattered when Schalke took the bottom spot in the Bundesliga table, in a difficult financial situation.
With Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk returning from injuries in late spring / early summer, these changes for Davies and Kobak suggest that Joel Matip and Nat Phillips should probably look for another club, while Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg are still a little far from becoming regulars.
If these deals are confirmed, Klopp will have Davies and Kabak available to play immediately, and Liverpool will still believe that they are in the title race after suffering a big swing in the middle of the season due to defensive injuries that have affected the entire balance of the team.