Liverpool is gearing up to steal a prized defensive target from FC Barcelona, escalating a high-stakes transfer battle.
Leading La Liga with 25 points under Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana are navigating an injury crisis and the loss of Iñigo Martínez, making a new center-back a priority for 2026.
However, a 25-year-old star’s standout performances have drawn intense competition, threatening Barcelona’s plans to bolster their backline as they prepare for El Clasico on October 26, 2025.
Liverpool has joined the race for Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, the German defender whose contract runs until 2027, as reported by Fichajes.
Valued at €50m, Schlotterbeck’s ball-playing ability and physicality have also caught Bayern Munich’s eye, but Liverpool’s need for a Virgil van Dijk successor, with Ibrahima Konaté’s future uncertain, makes him a prime target.
Barcelona sees him as ideal for Flick’s high-line alongside Pau Cubarsí, but Dortmund’s 8-10m net salary extension offer complicates matters.
Schlotterbeck’s reluctance to renew stems from Dortmund’s lack of title contention, pushing him toward a club like Barcelona or Liverpool, both Champions League contenders.
His technical prowess fits Arne Slot’s system, and Liverpool’s financial muscle could see them move in January, per Bild, especially after Giovanni Leoni’s injury.
Barcelona’s interest, sparked pre-Martínez’s exit, faces a setback if Schlotterbeck favors the Premier League’s intensity.
For Barcelona, losing Schlotterbeck would strain their defense, already reliant on Eric Garcia, whose renewal Chelsea threatens.
Deco’s urgency to secure a long-term partner for Cubarsí is critical, with Ronald Araujo’s injury history a concern.
As the Olympiacos clash looms, Liverpool’s entry into this transfer saga underscores the market’s competitiveness.
Schlotterbeck’s decision will shape Barcelona’s backline, balancing youth with experience in a title-chasing season, forcing the club to act swiftly or risk strengthening a rival’s defense.
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