Liverpool target Schalke Papadopoulos

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hopes to kickstart his summer transfer campaign with a signing of highly-rated Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos.

With Jamie Carragher having retired from football and Martin Skrtel’s future at the club remaining in the dark, Rodgers is determined to sign several quality defenders in summer. The Greece international Papadopoulos is considered as a right man, capable to bring strength and robustness to shaky Liverpool defense. The Reds boss is reportedly prepared to table around £13.5million for the defender but is likely to face stiff competition from Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid.

At the age of just 21 Papadopoulos has a rich experience of first-team football, having made his debut at age of 15. He has also earned 14 caps for the Greece national side.

Papadopoulos moved to Schalke from Olympiacos back in 2010, and has established himself as an important first-team player. He helped the German side to reach the Champions League play-off stages.