Liverpool tracking Dortmund and Germany star amid Konate uncertainty

Soccer Football – Champions League – Round of 16 – Second Leg – Lille v Borussia Dortmund – Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France – March 12, 2025 Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck celebrates their first goal scored by Emre Can REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck. The Reds are reeling from the loss of summer signing Giovanni Leoni through injury, while Ibrahima Konate continues to be strongly linked with a free transfer to Real Madrid.

Liverpool are admirers of the Germany international who is reportedly unhappy with Dortmund’s contract extension proposal worth around €8m gross per year. The Reds have the means to offer a deal much higher and could be preparing to launch a bid for the player’s services.

They could face competition from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich however, with Christian Falk of CF Bayern Insider reporting that Bayern are waiting in the wings should their defender Dayot Upamecano opt against extending his deal at the club. The reports adds that Bayern are also keeping tabs on Marc Guehi’s situation, and will wait to see if they are able to land the Palace skipper before moving for Schlotterbeck.

The 25-year-old is understood to be open to all offers after being underwhelmed by Dortmund’s opening contract offer. He is reportedly specifically interested in Liverpool’s offer, with the Reds expected to make contact soon. Arne Slot’s men are seen as the leaders in the race for Schlotterbeck, while Bayern await a resolution with Upamecano before formalizing their interest.

Real Madrid are believed to be another interested party in Schlotterbeck, but he is believed to be towards the bottom of their wish list that also includes Konate, Guehi, and Upamecano. Madrid are expected to push hard for the first three as they are soon to be free agents.

Should they fail in their attempt to convince any of them to join, they are reportedly then keen to target the Dortmund man. Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund from Freiburg in 2022 and has become a key man for the club. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.