Joel Matip
There is news today in the Mail that Liverpool’s new manager Jurgen Klopp is in a move to sign 24-year-old Cameroon International defender Joel Matip next month.
With Klopp, having been at Borussia Dortmund, he will know all about Joel’s excellent performances for Schalke – and Joel will become a free agent in June.
If this report is accurate it would be very difficult for Newcastle to persuade the player to join Newcastle in January.
The report is that Liverpool are ready to discuss a pre-contact agreement with Joel to tie up a deal – but that potential deal would presumably be executed in the summer – when Matip becomes a free agent.
If that is true, then Newcastle could potentially tempt Schalke to sell with a bid next month for the player.
With his contract running out in six months Matip is free to talk to other clubs about a free transfer starting January 1st.
Newcastle were linked with Matip in the summer when he was valued at £10M and it is thought he would be available for half that amount next month.
There were even some reports in July that Newcastle had a £10M bid turned down for the 26 times capped Cameroon International.
While Matip usually plays at center-back he can also play in defensive midfield and the player has been at Schalke since 2000.
It was generally thought that Matip would be Newcastle’s number one defensive target next month but with Liverpool reported to be moving in for the player that could change things.
And maybe that’s why Newcastle are today being linked today with Lorient center-back Lamine Kone – although Sunderland were reported in France yesterday to be very close to completing a deal for the 26 year-old Ivory Coast International.
With our precarious position in the Premier League we cannot afford to miss out on our top transfer targets in January.
