Report: Liverpool Consider Triggering Kerem Demirbay's £28M Release Clause

Liverpool reportedly are preparing to buy Hoffenheim midfielder Kerem Demirbay, with the Germany international available for £28 million. 

The Reds are in discussions to trigger the player's release clause with the Bundesliga outfit, as Demirbay was also linked with a possible transfer to Borussia Dortmund.

According to Turkish-Football (h/t Jamie Anderson of the Daily Express), the player shares management representation with Naby Keita and Sadio Mane, potentially aiding a switch to Anfield. Demirbay played for Dortmund's second team in 2012-13 during Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp's time with BVB.

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Liverpool signed Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim in 2015, and the German side continue to be one of the true success stories in European club football after their unbelievable rise up the domestic league system and into the UEFA Champions League.

According to Sport Bild (h/t Owen Fulda of the Daily Star), Klopp has been monitoring the attacker since 2017, with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also a fan of Demirbay.

The player came through the youth system at Schalke, before moving to Hamburg and completing loan spells with Kaiserslautern and Fortuna Dusseldorf. He then signed for manager Julian Nagelsmann at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena in 2016.

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Demirbay experienced reduced game time last term after he suffered anterior cruciate knee ligament and ankle ligament damage during a match at Hertha Berlin.

The player appeared in 23 games in the Bundesliga and Europe last term, coming off the substitutes bench six times.

Liverpool have maintained their interest in the playmaker despite his serious injury, and he could now be on the verge of a big-money move.

The No. 10 would add something different to Liverpool's squad, but supporters would be worried about his availability after the severity of his recent injuries. The pace of the Premier League would be difficult for Demirbay if any issues reoccurred with his knee's ACL.

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Klopp appears to be really thinking about the pieces of the jigsaw available to him, and he has little intent on running everything through Firmino, Mane and Mohamed Salah.

If new additions Keita and Fabinho have offered depth and energy, Demirbay would provide plenty of flair in the centre of the park with the accuracy of his passing.

At £28 million, Demirbay does constitute a risk, but Klopp is acutely aware of the type of talent he wants to add to his club in the months ahead.