Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka has been gaining plenty of interest since his performances at last summer’s FIFA Confederations Cup for Germany.
Liverpool had been offered the player by Schalke in August, but the Reds declined to buy him. The midfielder’s contract with Schalke will end in July 2018, and it looks likely that Liverpool will sign him on a free transfer.
Schalke have proven they have one of the most prolific football academies in all of Europe, and the club have at one time or another had Mesut Ozil, Ivan Rakitic, Manuel Neuer and Julian Draxler on their books. It looks like the club will lose yet another star in Goretzka.
Although the physical midfielder didn’t come through the club’s youth academy, he was signed away from Bochum in 2o13, and Goretzka has excelled as a top talent since arriving in Gelsenkirchen. If Goretzka leaves on a free transfer as expected, he would be another one of Schalke’s talented players to leave recently after his contract expired. Liverpool’s Joel Matip left the club in the summer of 2016 on a free transfer, and Schalke’s Max Meyer is believed to be leaving in the summer of 2018, too. Liverpool have also been linked with the pacy attacking midfielder.
The 22-year-old has also been linked to Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but it is believed his desire to play for Jurgen Klopp will seal the deal to bring him to Liverpool. Currently valued at £20 million, Goretzka could be the second midfield signing for Liverpool next summer.
Liverpool have already signed RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita ahead of next summer’s transfer window.