Liverpool: 3 reasons signing Ozan Kabak is a stroke of genius

Ozan Kabak is an excellent low-risk, high-reward loan signing for Liverpool.

Liverpool needed to sign a center back with starting experience in the January transfer window after injuries to the talented trio of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip. The Reds brought in Ben Davies from Preston, but they needed someone who has excelled in a top-five league. Enter former Stuttgart and Schalke man, Ozan Kabak.

The Bundesliga defender will head to Liverpool on a loan deal from the Royal Blues. This six-month loan will, per the Independent’s Melissa Reddy, cost the defending champions one million pounds. They can make the deal permanent for a mere 18 million pounds (plus add-ons).

Kabak is a masterful signing by sporting director Michael Edwards, and here’s why.

3. Liverpool aren’t obligated to buy Ozan Kabak, but they can for cheap

The “option to buy” can sometimes be a big point of contention for clubs. Look no further than Juventus’ pursuit of Gianluca Scamacca. The Bianconeri wanted a backup striker on the cheap for six months, but Sassuolo wanted an “obligation to buy” in the loan deal that would have set Juve back 25 million euros.

Liverpool won’t have to pay Schalke a penny more than the loan deal if they do not want to keep Kabak beyond this season. Of course, Jurgen Klopp, who once stole away Joel Matip from the Royal Blues for free, has had eyes on the Turkish international for several months now. Kabak has a prime opportunity to impress the highly-regarded manager and potentially displace Matip himself as the third-choice center back.

Matip is a great player so that won’t be easy, but Kabak is 20 with a world of potential. He could very well make use of this loan and become a key player for Liverpool on the cheap. Schalke needs the funds, so that’s a big reason why the Reds are able to get this kind of a deal. And if Kabak proves to be nothing more than hype – or simply not ready to play for a top Premier League club as a U21 center back – then the Reds can pass. No harm, no foul.