Liverpool Football Club is actively seeking to sign Borussia Dortmund central defender Nico Schlotterbeck to replace Ibrahima Konate, who will depart Anfield as a free agent when his contract expires on June 30th.
According to reports from DaveOCKOP, the 26-year-old German international has emerged as a serious option for manager Arne Slot after Konate decided not to sign an extension, drawing interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea.
Release Clause Details
Schlotterbeck recently signed a new contract with Dortmund until 2031, but the deal includes a release clause valued between €50 million and €60 million that can be triggered by a select group of clubs, including Liverpool.
Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported that this specific release clause is time-sensitive and will expire around the date of the World Cup final on July 19th.
Plettenberg wrote on X: "Now confirmed, as revealed yesterday on our show Transfer Update: Liverpool (alongside Real Madrid) are also one of the few clubs that can activate a release clause for Nico Schlotterbeck this summer.
The fee is around €50-60 million. #LFC The release clause is not valid for the entire summer transfer window.
According to @M_Wessing, it expires around the time of the World Cup final (19 July)."
Player's Interest and Public Stance
Reports from Space | ™ indicate that Schlotterbeck expressed his desire to join Liverpool during conversation with German national teammate Florian Wirtz at their international camp.
An online post from Space | ™ stated that Schlotterbeck has informed Wirtz that he is dreaming of joining Liverpool and has instructed his agent to begin positioning for a potential move after the World Cup.
Despite these reports, Schlotterbeck publicly downplayed the notion that he is using his international appearances to secure a transfer away from Borussia Dortmund.
Schlotterbeck stated to Bild: "What do you mean by shop window? I play 50 games a year.
I think it's completely normal that I always try to play well. To put yourself on display because of a World Cup – I don't see it that way."
The defender had also previously expressed his domestic ambitions within German football before the contract extension was finalized.
Schlotterbeck stated in late 2025: "I have the goal of winning a championship in Germany. We have been close.
The Champions League is very difficult to win – we were close there too. In the DFB-Pokal, I was close as well.
As a professional footballer, I've only won the U21 European Championship. Now I want to actually hold something in my hands."
Expert Opinions and Other Targets
Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann backed the potential transfer, suggesting that the German defender possesses the qualities needed to eventually succeed Virgil van Dijk.
Hamann stated in October 2025: "He's a natural leader.... You don't know how long Virgil van Dijk is going to be there.
The perfect situation would be to bring somebody in who maybe plays with Van Dijk for one or two years and then takes over Van Dijk's role."
German football pundit Lothar Matthaus clarified that the new contract extension does not preclude a transfer if an elite club makes an offer.
Matthaus stated to Sky Germany: "It was always about him wanting to take the next step. On the other hand, he's also committed to Borussia Dortmund.
But if Real Madrid comes calling, you want to keep a door open, at least a small crack you can walk through."
Liverpool has already secured a £60 million deal for 20-year-old defender Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, while alternative targets on the recruitment shortlist include Konstantinos Koulierakis from Wolfsburg and former Liverpool player Jarrell Quansah.
