Jurgen Klopp previously said the player Everton now want to sign has ‘big potential’
The Turkish defender is out of contract with Hoffenheim at the end of the season and the Toffees believe he’d be a good addition to bolster their defensive ranks.
Remember him? How would you feel about potentially signing Kabak? 🧐
Kabak played under Jurgen Klopp during the 2020/21 season, and the Liverpool boss was an admirer of his skillset.
Jurgen Klopp was a big admirer of Everton target Ozan Kabak
Speaking in February 2021, Klopp waxed lyrical about the now Everton target Kabak.
“Big potential,” the Liverpool boss explained.
“Twenty years old, already pretty experienced, to be honest. He didn’t take the easy way in his career so far.
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“When you are in Istanbul and can play for one of the biggest teams probably in the world, and always being around the top of the table, then you go to Stuttgart, then you go to Schalke.
“(There) you have to fight really hard to win a football game. That’s good from an education, development point of view.
“Now he’s here and looks really promising.”
Kabak helped Liverpool to a top four finish that season, which looked an unlikely achievement at one point due to several injuries.
Since then, the 26-cap Turkey international has had spells at Norwich City and now of course Hoffenheim.
Kabak has a pretty remarkable record for the Bundesliga outfit this term, as he’s only started seven games but scored four goals from centre-back.
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 14 | 7 | 4 | – |
| DFB-Pokal | 1 | 0 | – | – |
If Everton were to land his signature, the 25-year-old would more than likely be a back-up option rather than a starter.
Kabak would probably join as a Michael Keane replacement, with the Toffees defender due to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
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It had looked as if the Stamford Bridge talent would be on his way to Fulham, but a move never materialised with the Cottagers.
That opened the door for the Toffees to bring the forward in after a largely positive spell with Chelsea last season, but things haven’t really worked out at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He has only made five appearances in blue, with just one of those bringing over 21 minutes of action, which was the 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth.
So, his only start ended in a loss, while the other two of his substitute cameos had the same outcome.
George came on against Manchester United after being instructed to get ready to come on while Benjamin Sesko netted the winner.
The Englishman was most recently brought on against Arsenal at 0-0, but once again, while he was getting ready, Viktor Gyokeres found the net.
None of these examples are the fault of the attacker, but it isn’t a good look after George completed a loan move to Everton to hardly play.
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The Toffees may be frustrated that the winger keeps coming on and playing a role in defeats, but he can’t really help what is going on at the back.
What Moyes can help with is the amount of game time the loanee is picking up after coming in on deadline day.
George will have been confident of picking up regular game time on Merseyside, but McNeil has arguably put an end to that.
The ex-Burnley man has been great since his Palace move failed, so it makes sense to prefer him over a loanee from Stamford Bridge.
That won’t please George or Chelsea, who are bound to be growing increasingly frustrated with the way this loan spell is going.