Liverpool agree deal to sign international defender

LIVERPOOL have agreed a deal in principle to sign Schalke centre-back Joel Matip, according to reports.

 

Joel Matip is out of contract with Schalke at the end of the season

 

Matip is out-of-contract in June and has turned down a lucrative new contract with the German club.

And the Mirror claim the Cameroon international will end his 16-year relationship with Schalke in the summer by joining Liverpool on a free transfer.

Jurgen Klopp is looking to bolster his defence in the absence of Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel and has already completed the signing of Steven Caulker on loan from QPR.

 

he 24-year-old centre-back was on loan at Southampton for the first half of the season, and only played eight matches in all competitions for the club.

But his arrival at Anfield is seen as a short-term measure and it looks likely he will leave the club at the end of this campaign.

Matip has played every minute of Schalke's league campaign this term, scoring twice along the way.

Klopp has been an admirer of the defender, who has 27 caps for his country, ever since his time with Borussia Dortmund.