Liverpool hopes of signing FC Schalke 04 defender increase after Gelsenkirchen club bring in likely replacement.
FC Schalke 04 have signed Borussia Dortmund central defender Felipe Santana on a three year contract after triggering the release clause in the 27 year-old’s contract.
“We are delighted that Santana has chosen Schalke 04. He excels with his aggressive one-on-one play and reliability, he can also score goals. Moreover he has been in the Bundesliga for five years,” Schalke general manager Horst Heldt told ESPN.
Santana’s move will heighten press speculation that Liverpool are set to sign Schalke centre back Kyriakos Papadopoulos this summer, with Daily Mirror journalist John Cross telling Life’s A Pitch that “there’s a real chance of [the deal] happening.”
Papadoupolos is just 21 years of age, and has enormous potential.
He has performed admirably in both Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League fixtures, and was the youngest ever player to appear in the Greek Superleague, having made his Olympiacos debut whilst just 15 years of age.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has some recruitment to do at centre back, with Reds legend Jamie Carragher retiring for a career in punditry, Martin Skrtel out of favour and contemplating a transfer, and Sebastian Coates also potentially exiting after failing to break into the first team at Anfield.
That leaves Liverpool with just a single senior centre back in Daniel Agger, though the club have been strongly linked with the signings of Papadopoulos, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure and Ashley Williams of Swansea City.
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