Trio eye Schalke defender
Sunderland have joined the hunt for Schalke defender Joel Matip.
The Cameroon centre-back is also a target for Liverpool and Newcastle.
Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp knows German-born Matip from his time in charge of Schalke's Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
And Newcastle, whose head coach Steve McClaren was boss of German side Wolfsburg, have been keen to land £10million-rated Matip since the summer.
But relegation-haunted Sunderland were represented as Matip featured in Schalke's 1-0 home win over Hoffenheim on Friday night.
Matip, 24, is out of contract next summer and Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce has made a central defender his top priority.
Schalke want 6ft 4in Matip to sign a new four-year deal and head coach Andre Breitenreiter insists his club won't cash in on him in the new year.
But Matip, who also operates as a defensive midfielder, can sign a pre-contract agreement ahead of a move at the end of the season.
Source: Daily Express
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