Liverpool looking to snap up German star Holtby

Holtby could be a Liverpool player at the start of the next season.

Liverpool have been long plagued in their wing department and have looked for the optimal solution on the wings. Off late, Brendan Rodgers has been forced to look at the reserve side and the likes of Sterling and Suso have been promoted to the first team to fill in the gap.

Stewart Downing was signed last summer to provide width and serve the wings, where he could provide quality crosses for the centre forwards to finish, but failed miserably. This has forced Liverpool to look forward and they are set to renew their interest in Schalke star Lewis Holtby by making the midfielder an offer in January to join them at the end of the season.

Holtby’s contract at Schalke is set to expire at the end of the current season, and as per the Bosman ruling, clubs from outside Germany will be free to discuss terms with the 22-year-old in January and Liverpool are set to pounce on that chance.

Liverpool have had their work cut out in preparing an offer that they will in all likeliness put to Holtby in January with the hope of securing the player’s services next summer.

Schalke, the Bundesliga club have confirmed their keenness in continuing with the services of their star man, Holtby. They are looking to renew a contract with him, but fear his desire to play in the Premier League may drive him away.

“I cannot predict what the result of the contract talks with Lewis Holtby will be, I can only confirm that we are going to discuss a new deal,” Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said.

Holtby, whose father is from Liverpool, has previously talked about his son’s ambition of playing in England: “The Premier League is a goal at some point. As a footballer, you want to improve always, and in football everything is possible.”

It was earlier reported that both the Merseyside clubs, Liverpool and Everton were interested in the services of the German star.

Liverpool face stiff competition from the likes of Everton. The father of the player and the player himself are huge Everton fans.

Lewis said: “My father was born in England and was a Everton fan since the age of five. He immediately infected me with the Everton virus! Since then I have been a Everton fan and have always followed their games.

Hence, Liverpool will have to be pro-active and would have to splash the cash for the young winger.

Since the winger is not very well known for his goal scoring prowess and with the ambitions of clinching a Champions League spot, a goalscorer still remains Liverpool’s top priority for come this January.