Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is growing restless as the transfer window comes to a close. The German boss desperately wants to bring in a new defender into his squad and for the longest time everyone thought that it was going to be Virgil Van Dijk. But now the Saints are just refusing to bow down to Liverpool and will not part ways with their Dutch defender. Hence Jurgen Klopp has been forced to look elsewhere and reports have it that Klopp has picked out Schalke 04 defender Benedikt Howedes as a possible replacement for Van Dijk.
When the previous season ended everyone knew that Van Dijk was going to be the first signing for the Reds but then they had to back out of the deal after Southampton accused the Anfield outfit of tapping on their defender. But then Van Dijk handed in a transfer request after which Liverpool reignited their interest in the player.
Having said all this though, the deal has made no sort of positive movements in the past month or so and Klopp now feels that Van Dijk might not eventually make the journey to Anfield – forcing him to shift his interest to Howedes.
Howedes, 29, is a versatile defender who is capable of playing on either flank as well as in central defence. Another plus for Liverpool should they move for the German International will be the fact that he will come at a much cheaper cost as compared to Van Dijk. If Liverpool were to go for Howedes then news has it that they can bring him to Merseyside within the price bracket of £18 million.
Benedikt Howedes has personally gone on to claim that he has offers from other clubs currently but will not be moving within Germany since he attachment with Schalke – having grown up from their academy.
Howedes told Funke Sport, “I’ve said I won’t move within [Germany] and can picture a move abroad,
“As of today, that point in time hasn’t come.
“I received offers from other clubs after the surprising demotion from captain… that my agent checked and answered.”
