LIVERPOOL target Joel Matip has been offered a new contract at Bundesliga club Schalke — in a bid to stave off interest from Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds boss, 48, is still hoping to land his man in the summer, with the German-born Cameroonian out of contract at the end of the season.
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Matip is keen on a switch to the Premier League — but Schalke have made a four-year, £11million offer to the defender.
If Matip did accept the offer, it wouldn’t rule out a move from Klopp and Co altogether — however, the German boss would be forced into paying a large transfer fee, rather than a free as hoped.
And after Liverpool’s shocking defensive performance in the 3-0 loss to newly-promoted Watford, it could be that Klopp is willing to fork out in order to bolster his backline.
Meanwhile, Schalke officials and Matip are set to sit down in the New Year to decide on the deal.
Club managing director Horst Heldt said: “Our competition is tough.
“We have agreed with his consultants that in January we will make a decision.”