"Is this another Edwards masterclass?" - Report has many fans convinced LFC are close to a genius transfer

A report from Der Westen suggests that Schalke's plans to drive up the price for Ozan Kabak are in tatters as he hasn't played at the EUROs.

Liverpool took the Turkish defender on loan for six months as an emergency solution to the club's defensive injury crisis and Tutto Mercato reported over the weekend that a clause in the Reds' deal with Schalke to sign him for £18m expired.

What is the media saying about Kabak?

The German club was previously said to be happy with the clause expiring as it meant they could oversee an auction for Kabak's services but the 21-year-old hasn't featured for Turkey at the EUROs and so his value has dropped massively.

Now, according to Der Westen, Kabak's lack of involvement for Turkey means that their 'plan did not pay off.' They 'had come up with' a very special plan to generate more money.'

They claim that although Liverpool did not trigger the right to buy clause, the centre-half is not expected to return to Gelsenkirchen.

Liverpool fans think Edwards is two steps ahead

Leicester City, Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig are all said to be interested but supporters on social media believe this was all predicted by sporting director Michael Edwards and that he is set to pull off a trademark genius transfer ploy.

Should Liverpool sell Phillips and sign Kabak?

While Nathaniel Phillips was astounding at the backend of the Premier League season, he is not really at the level required to be a long-term starter for Liverpool while Kabak, who is still just 21, has a much higher ceiling on his potential.

It could be an unbelievable move from Michael Edwards if it comes to fruition as it would mean the Reds would go into the 2021/22 season with the strongest depth at centre-back in the world.

I don't think there is another club that could match the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Ozan Kabak and it would be quite the turnaround from Liverpool after their title defence was left in tatters by long-term injuries to the Reds' first-choice central defenders.

With Konate arriving from RB Leipzig and Jurgen Klopp expecting the likes of van Dijk to be fully fit for the first game of the Premier League season against Norwich City on the 14th of August, the Anfield outfit is looking strong already.