Reports from Italy have emerged of Jose Mourinho’s interest in bolstering his defensive options by signing Schalke’s talented 21-year-old centre-back Ozan Kabak. The Turkey international is being touted as Chris Smalling’s replacement ahead of the 2021/22 season, after the England defender sustained yet another injury.
Smalling’s affair with injuries seems to be never-ending as he missed much of last season and now again is at the end of a muscular injury. Juan Jesus was released by the club after the end of his contract and the Giallorossi have made three defensive signings this summer – with only one of them being a centre-back, Roger Ibanez.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, the defender, who impressed on loan at Liverpool in the second half of last season, is being eyed by Mourinho’s management as a potential transfer.
It is also assumed that the defender would prefer not playing in the German second tier, the 2. Bundesliga, with Schalke after developing into a mature defender during his short spell at Anfield. Die Knappen are also said to have given Kabak the permission to find a new team
Roma are already on the verge of losing Alessandro Florenzi to Milan and Federico Fazio’s future is up in thin air, who will have to part ways if Kabak is to enter the picture.