Report: 'Strong' defender set to sign new contract with £51m release clause amid links to Liverpool

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Liverpool should stop treating Nico Schlotterbeck as a live option in the near future. It is a story about timing, and the timing has now turned against them.The clearest sign is that Schlotterbeck’s renewal talks have moved into a decisive phase, with his new contract at Borussia Dortmund described as almost fully negotiated, agreement reached on the most important point, and a firm internal belief that he will stay, according to Bild.

Just how bad do you want Arne Slot gone? 😬 Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images Nico Schlotterbeck not expected to be option for Liverpool this summerLiverpool, who have been linked alongside Real Madrid this season, would now be better served accepting that a short-term opening no longer exists for the player.That is the key point here. It is about whether the conditions for a deal are still there, and they look as though they are disappearing fast.Dortmund are not acting like a club preparing to lose one of their most important defenders.

Schlotterbeck may still be a name worth respecting, but respect is not enough to build a transfer strategy around.Liverpool supporters do not need false hope on this one. The smart reading is the simple reading: Schlotterbeck looks set to stay where he is, and if there is a realistic route in the future, it now appears to begin in 2027 rather than this summer.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox