Liverpool complete signing of Preston centre-back Ben Davies
Ben Davies has joined Liverpool from Preston (Richard Sellers/PA)
Liverpool have taken a step towards solving their centre-back problems by completing the signing of Ben Davies from Preston, the PA news agency understands.
The 25-year-old underwent a medical on Monday before signing for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £500,000, plus structured add-ons.
Jurgen Klopp is also closing in on Schalke defender Ozan Kabak, with the two clubs close to agreeing an initial £1million loan fee with the option to buy for £18m at the end of the season.
Liverpool closing in on Preston centre-back Ben Davies
Preston defender Ben Davies is on the verge of a move to Liverpool (Richard Sellers/PA)
Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Preston centre-back Ben Davies and reinforce what has become a problem area for manager Jurgen Klopp this season.
The 25-year-old will undergo a medical on Monday before signing for an initial £500,000, the PA news agency understands.
Davies’ deal also includes structured add-ons – primarily related to first-team appearances and any achievements the player contributes to – worth up to £1.1million.
Preston defender Ben Davies is close to completing a deadline-day move to Liverpool (Nick Potts/PA)
Liverpool recruit two defenders with Joel Matip ruled out for rest of the season
Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak have arrived to ease Jurgen Klopp’s considerable defensive issues. By Press Association Monday 1 Feb 2021, 11:01 PM Feb 1st 2021, 7:13 PM 43,313 Views 27 Comments
Preston North End s Ben Davies (file pic).
Image: PA
Image: PA
Updated Feb 1st 2021, 11:01 PM
LIVERPOOL HAVE LOST Joel Matip for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage after addressing defensive issues with the double deadline-day signing of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak.
Matip was injured in a challenge with Tottenham striker Son Heung-min in Liverpool’s 3-1 away win last Thursday and will play no further part in the Reds’ Premier League title defence.
Ben Davies has already passed his Liverpool audition ahead of deadline day transfer
The Preston North End centre-back has experience ranging from the Championship to non-league but is well-aware of what is required at the highest level
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The 25-year-old will undergo a medical on Monday before signing for an initial £500,000 fee. Davies’ deal also includes structured add-ons – primarily related to first-team appearances and any achievements the player contributes to – worth up to £1.1million. Preston will also benefit from a 20 per cent sell-on clause on any profit Liverpool make on any further transfer and also any England appearance. North End will also get the 19-year-old defender Sepp Van Den Berg on loan for free with the first option for a loan next season should he start a certain percentage of matches in the current campaign. The cut-price deal may seem at odds with Liverpool’s status as Premier League champions but it is viewed within the club as a ‘Ragnar Klavan-type’ signing, the Estonia captain who moved to Anfield in 2016 for £4.2million and made 39 appearances over two seasons as a reliable back-up.