Real Madrid reportedly face competition from Liverpool to sign one of their top defensive targets this summer. A new centre-back is a priority for Los Blancos ahead of David Alaba's exit in June when his contract expires.
According to Spanish journalist Jorge Picon (via Madrid Universal), the Premier League club are keen on signing Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck. Their manager, Arne Slot, has met with the player and told him about the project to persuade him to move to Anfield.
Schlotterbeck is regarded as one of the best left-sided central defenders in Europe. He will have a year on his contract this summer and is on Madrid's wishlist.
The La Liga heavyweights "like him a lot" and he's among the options to strengthen the team's defense for whoever is in charge next season. Previous reports suggested that Los Blancos were in pole position to sign him for a fee around €50m.
Race is on for Schlotterbeck
Dortmund are still trying to get the 26-year-old to extend his stay at Signal Iduna Park. The Bundesliga club have offered him a "very good" contract proposal and hope that he will remain with the German giants.
Schlotterbeck has been a key man for Niko Kovac's side this season, appearing 28 times across competitions. He's been handy going forward, finding the back of the net four times while providing two assists.
The German is versatile, able to play at left-back which might be taken into consideration by Madrid. Injury problems have been a massive issue this season and Alvaro Carreras is currently sidelined.
A story of revenge
Liverpool might be keen to beat Madrid to Schlotterbeck after losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Spaniards last summer. The English right-back left his boyhood club, deciding not to sign a contract extension and instead headed to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Blancos are also reportedly in talks with Ibrahima Konate, whose current deal with the Merseyside outfit expires this summer. The Frenchman could follow Alexander-Arnold to the Spanish capital again as a free agent.
If Liverpool lose Konate they will be eager to sign a replacement despite the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet this summer. He has been a mainstay in Slot's team and formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
The two clubs seem to be encountering one another in the transfer market and that could again be the case this summer. Both seem eager to sign one of German football's best defensive talents.