Joel Matip will not be leaving Schalke in January despite Liverpool's interest, general manager Andre Breitenreiter has confirmed.

Express Sport understands the 24-year-old is on Jurgen Klopp's radar as he looks to bolster his options in defence following the injury to Dejan Lovren.

It's understood Liverpool are keen on a January swoop for the Cameroon international, hoping to get a bargain with his contract set to expire in the summer.

Newcastle reportedly discussed a fee in the region of £10milllion in the last transfer window, however, a deal failed to materialise.

And now Klopp's hopes of signing Matip may also have been dashed, with Schalke's general manager categorically ruling out a winter move.

"I can rule out a winter departure," Breitenreiter told the German press.

"I am wishing for more competition between the players in the Ruckrunde [second half of the season]. We need that to maximise their performances."

Klopp is also claimed to be an admirer of Matip's team-mate Leroy Sane, who is regarded as one of Germany's next wave of young stars.

At just 19-years-old he has already made his full international debut for Germany, featuring in the 2-0 defeat to France last month in Paris.

Source: Daily Express

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