Liverpool Set to Announce Signing of Powerful 6 ft 4 in Defender by the End of the Week

Schalke defender Joel Matip has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool for quite some time.

Various reports have claimed that the Reds have already agreed a deal with the 24-year old defender and the latest report claims that the deal could be announced soon.

German publication Revier Sport claims that the Merseysiders are expected to announce the signing of the Cameroonian international by the end of this week.

Matip, who has progressed through Schalke youth ranks, is in the last year of his contract. Despite holding lengthy contract negotiations with the player, Schalke have failed to convince him into signing a new deal.

Liverpool attempted to sign the player during the January transfer window, but a move failed to materialize back then.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is a fan of the player since his days with Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga.

Matip has made more than 200 appearances for the German club since making his senior debut in 2009-10 season. He won the German Cup with Schalke in 2010-11.

He will be the second permanent signing of Klopp’s era after the January signing of teenage midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade. Grujic was loaned back until the end of the current 2015/2016 season.