Liverpool could seize on transfer opportunity to trigger bargain release clause

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladback defender Ko Itakura

Liverpool are partial to a release clause buy, with the avoidance of transfer bidding war proving to be particularly attractive to the Reds.

Under Jurgen Klopp’s watch, Liverpool have bought 25 senior players with more than a year left on their contracts on a permanent basis. Six of those deals have been aided by transfer release clauses.

Half of the Reds’ £150m midfield revamp last season was completed courtesy of such clauses, with Liverpool snapping up Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion and Dominik Szoboszlai after agreeing to meet their £35m and £60m releases.

Of course, the signing of Hungarian wasn’t the first time the Reds had shopped at the Red Bull group, with Ibrahima Konate and Takumi Minamino joining the club after Liverpool matched their £36m and £7.25m release clauses at RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg respectively.

They also agreed to meet Naby Keita’s release clause when trying to sign the Guinean in the summer of 2017, aware it wouldn’t kick in for another 12 months. While RB Leipzig had no intention of selling the midfielder at the time, they signed off on a deal for the following year which would see Liverpool match his would-be release clause of £48m, and pay a premium on top dependent upon how they fared in the Bundesliga in 2017/18.

A sixth place finish resulted in an overall transfer fee of £52.75m in the summer of 2018.

And that same window, the Reds also activated a relegation release clause in Xherdan Shaqiri’s Stoke City contract following their demotion to the Championship, which enabled Liverpool to snap up the Swiss for just £13.5m.

Ever the opportunists in the transfer market, the Reds work hard behind the scenes to build working relationships and sniff out the existence of such clauses. And with Liverpool expected to look to strengthen their defence next summer, a similar opportunity could be about to present itself.

The Reds continue to be linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura, with reports in Germany suggesting the former Man City youngster could be available for a cut-price fee at the end of the season.

Currently away with Japan at the Asian Cup, alongside Wataru Endo, the 26-year-old has only recently recovered from injury and is not available for transfer this month. However, Sky Germany claim that both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have ‘put out feelers’ regarding a future move for the defender ahead of a release clause, worth between €10m-€15m becoming active at the end of the season.

That would mean a fee of between £8.6m and £12.9m, making Itakura a potential bargain if the Reds intend to follow up on reported interest.

The Japanese is predominantly a centre-back but can also play at number six, with such versatility in both positions an asset that would certainly be valued at Anfield.