Joel Matip ruled out for rest of season
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is set to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle ligament injury, manager Jurgen Klopp has told the club’s website.
To make up for the shortage, Liverpool have signed Schalke’s Turkey central defender Ozan Kabak on loan until the end of the season and Ben Davies from Preston.
The Premier League champions have paid an initial £1million loan fee for Kabak with the option to buy for £18m at the end of the season.
Kabak completed the formalities of the switch in Germany and will travel to Merseyside later this week.
The 20-year-old arrives at Anfield after two years in the Bundesliga, where he represented Stuttgart before joining Schalke in July 2019.
He previously gained Champions League experience at Galatasaray and has won seven caps for Turkey.
Meanwhile, Ben Davies who signed from Preston earlier in the day, plans to make the most of his “surprise” opportunity and shine in the Premier League.
Davies completed his move from Sky Bet Championship club Preston on Monday night, the initial fee believed to be in the region of £500,000, plus structured add-ons.
The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract and bolstered Liverpool’s defensive ranks with Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Fabinho all currently sidelined by injury.
Davies told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m obviously delighted to be here. It’s a huge opportunity.