Nico Schlotterbeck Eyes Liverpool Move as €52.5m Clause Opens

Nico Schlotterbeck has told Florian Wirtz that he wants to join Liverpool, and the Borussia Dortmund defender could move after the World Cup. The reported path is narrow: Liverpool are among the select clubs that can activate his release clause, while Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Anfield this summer as a free agent.

Liverpool And Schlotterbeck

Schlotterbeck has recently signed a new Borussia Dortmund contract, but it reportedly includes a €52.5 million release clause restricted to a very small circle of clubs. Liverpool are on that list, alongside Real Madrid, giving them a direct route if they choose to move for a defender before the clause expires.

Space reported on May 29 at 1:55pm that Schlotterbeck told Wirtz during Germany national team duty that he dreams of joining Liverpool. The same report said he has already instructed his agent, Björn Etzel, to position him for a potential move after the World Cup.

Konate And The Opening

The opening at Liverpool comes from Konate’s situation. Talks over a new contract collapsed, and he is set to leave when his deal runs out this summer. He said in April that he was close to signing a new contract, but the deal did not land.

That leaves Liverpool with a clear decision point in defence. Schlotterbeck is not available to every club, and the release clause is not live for the whole summer window.

July 19 Deadline

Florian Plettenberg said the fee is around €50-60 million and that the clause expires around the World Cup final on 19 July. His April update also put Liverpool and Real Madrid among the few clubs able to trigger it this summer.

That deadline gives Liverpool a short window to act if Konate departs as expected. Schlotterbeck would leave Dortmund without a second thought for the chance to wear Liverpool colours, but the club still has to decide whether to take that route before the clause closes.