Liverpool left the game at the end of the transfer deadline, but Jurgen Klopp hired two central defenders to reinforce his defense.
[ 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 have signed.
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’s offer to Liverpool also completed
UPDATE: Liverpool confirmed the signing of 20-year-old Turkish international Ozan Kabak. The deal will initially be a loan ($ 2 million fee) with the Reds with a $ 25 million option to make the transfer permanent.
It’s official! 😎@ ozankabak4 joins us on loan from @ s04 until the end of the season 👊
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 1, 2021
Our partners at Sky Sports in Germany broke the news that Kabak agreed to join Liverpool on loan, while Schalke agreed to the terms with a $ 25 million call option clause this summer.
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 lined up Shkodran Mustafi to replace Kabak, as Arsenal’s central defender signed 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.
Klopp will now have Davies and Kabak available to play immediately, and Liverpool still believe they are in contention for the title after suffering a major sway in the middle of the season due to defensive injuries that have affected the entire balance of the team. They now have defensive coverage, and this is critical.