Liverpool Transfer News: Joel Matip, Bojan Krkic, Breel Embolo, Latest Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will seek to bolster the defensive options available to him, with reports suggesting the Reds have shown an interest in landing Schalke defender Joel Matip.

David Kent of the MailOnline writes that Liverpool intend to discuss a pre-contract with the 24-year-old, and according to Paul Joyce of the Daily Express, it means veteran defender Kolo Toure is likely to leave the club.

Matip, a Cameroon international, would be a savvy pick-up for the Reds on a free transfer and would help enrich the quality in the centre-back berth.

As WhoScored.com noted earlier this season, the Schalke man is an expert reader of the game:

In addition, Matip is the kind of authoritative presence that’s been lacking at the back at Anfield for a long time. The centre-back is not only sharp in intercepting the ball, but commanding in the air, fierce in the tackle and a useful player when it comes to set pieces too.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The latter is an area which Klopp has been adamant that his team must improve, with West Bromwich Albion bagging two goals at Anfield from dead-ball situations in Liverpool’s last Premier League outing.

Matip would be able to assist in easing these woes and, on a free transfer, would represent a coup.

Liverpool Chasing Bojan Krkic

James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images

According to Martin Lipton of the Sun, Liverpool are one of three Premier League giants looking to land Stoke City forward Bojan Krkic.

It’s suggested the Reds, Manchester United and Chelsea are all keeping an eye on the former Barcelona prodigy. Lipton also writes the teams mentioned are willing to part with £15 million in an attempt to prise the Spain international away from the Britannia Stadium.

For Liverpool, Bojan would potentially be a wonderful capture. Despite bursting onto the scene as a youngster at the Camp Nou, his star faded during spells at Roma and AC Milan before he eventually made the move to Stoke.

Now, after some dazzling displays, Bojan looks well on his way to scaling the heights many initially anticipated he would.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, Stoke have a very exciting team to call upon at the moment:

Bojan is at the crux of it, meaning that—try as Liverpool might—it’ll be tough to secure the player for £15 million. Granted, his 2014-15 season was ruined by injury, but the former Barcelona star has proved he is cut out for this division and is one of the most important players in an established Premier League outfit.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

If the Reds are serious about signing the forward, qualifying for the Champions League would be to their advantage.

Lipton writes that while Bojan does not actively want to leave Stoke, he would be tempted by the prospect of playing for a team that’s pushing to compete in European football’s elite competition.

Liverpool Join Breel Embolo Race

Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images

Calciomercato (h/t Tom Olver of Metro) claims Liverpool are the latest team to show an interest in FC Basel’s teenage sensation, Breel Embolo.

As Olver writes, the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have been mooted as potential destinations for the player previously. But now the Reds and their Merseyside rivals, Everton, are said to have joined the hunt for one of European football’s hottest prospects.

Here’s a look at what Embolo is capable of producing, despite still only being 18 years old:

The Reds are in a curious position when it comes to centre-forwards. They have plenty, but at the moment, it’s tough to rely fully on any of them. Danny Ings is out for the season, Daniel Sturridge regularly picks up knocks, Divock Origi is raw and Christian Benteke seems to be struggling to adapt to the style of play deployed by Klopp.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Embolo, for all his natural talent, wouldn't give the Reds the consistency they need in this critical area of the field.

All the tools are in place for the Swiss international to go on and have a wonderful career, but for the time being, he still needs to develop a lot of areas of his game. That’s a process that will not be expedited should he make a big-money move to Liverpool, where every movement would be subject to forensic examination.