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Liverpool will have a potential fight in their hands as they attempt to sign Borrusia Dortmund’s  Nico Schlotterbeck.

Schlotterbeck became the latest player to be linked with a switch to Anfield in the coming summer.

It is no longer news that the Reds are looking to strengthen several positions in the next transfer window.

Defensive reinforcements are one of the top transfer discussions being held by the club’s hierarchy ahead of the summer.

BILD reported last week that the Reds have identified Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck as an option to shadow Virgil Van Dijk, whos is now 33 years old.

The 25-year-old German international has established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s premier defenders since joining Dortmund from SC Freiburg in 2022.

According to the report, Liverpool is prepared to invest substantially in securing the defender’s services, with figures suggesting the Reds would be willing to table an offer exceeding €50 million (approximately £42 million).

However, Richard Hughes and co may struggle to convince the German international to leave Signal Iduna Park for Anfield.

This is because Dortmund plan to make “Schlotterbeck the club’s face of the future and a potential captain.”

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the Black and Yellow are also planning to offer Schlotterbeck a considerable salary increase, a move which could boost Dortmund’s chances of keeping him at the club for long.

“Borussia Dortmund want to make Nico #Schlotterbeck the club’s face of the future and a potential captain,” Plettenberg wrote on X.

“Contract talks are currently on hold due to #BVB’s sporting situation, but Dortmund plan to almost double his current salary of €5-6m, as per @berger_pj

However, Liverpool’s chances could be boosted if Dortmund fail to qualify for Europe next season?

The German club currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga, seven points off the European places.

“Other clubs keep showing interest, and a transfer is not ruled out if Dortmund miss out on European football,”

Plettenberg added.

“However, Schlotterbeck remains open to staying even in case of failure.”

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