Liverpool can activate release clause for £52m star who only signed new deal last month

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Summer signing Giovanni Leoni looked highly promising in his maiden Reds appearance against Southampton in the League Cup before a devastating ACL injury cut the defender's season short.Ibrahima Konate's uncertain future is a worry for the club, with the French star yet to sign a new deal. Veteran defender Joe Gomez could depart this summer, and club captain Virgil van Dijk, while often convincing many he's still at the peak of his powers, will be 35 by the start of next season.Liverpool also failed to secure Marc Guehi in January, after a summer deal for the now-Manchester City centre-back fell through on deadline day.

His passing rate is 88.3 per cent, while he has made 142 ball recoveries.The player's compatriot and Liverpool legend, Didi Hamman, believes Schlotterbeck could even serve as a successor to Van Dijk. I think he'd be a great signing for Liverpool, and a lot of other teams as well."While Liverpool could test the waters with a mega-money bid, Schlotterbeck himself said back in late 2025 that he wants to win silverware in the Bundesliga.

His ambitions could possibly hold up a move, after he finished runner up with former club Freiburg in the German Cup in 2022 and with Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final.He said: “I have the goal of winning a championship in Germany. Speaking to Sky Germany, Matthaus said: "It was always about him wanting to take the next step."On the other hand, he's also committed to Borussia Dortmund.