FC Schalke defender Joël Matip has reportedly agreed to join Liverpool in the summer.
After stalling on contract talks with his current club, seemingly set on a new challenge, a deal in principle is in place for the Cameroon international to move to Merseyside - according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The 24-year-old played at Schalke during the same time which Reds boss Jürgen Klopp was managing Borussia Dortmund and the German is believed to be a keen admirer of the centre-back.
The 6ft 3ins defender has long been linked with a move to Anfield and though it appeared that he was close to signing a new deal with Schalke, it seems that he's set to move to the Premier League.
If true, the signing would show that Klopp wants to do business early and build a strong side to mount a real challenge in the league next season, having had their top-four charge hampered by injuries and a taxing fixture schedule over the past few weeks.
Matip's background - a good buy?
The Bochum-born defender signed for Schalke back in 2000 as a youth player and worked his way through their ranks before playing in his first professional fixture in October 2009. He then signed his first professional contract with the club in 2010, tying him down at the Veltins Arena until 2013.
Matip soon became a key player, making 37 appearances in his first professional season. He displayed composed performances on a consistent basis which led to links with a move away to bigger sides such as Bayern Munich, who were reportedly interested in his services. However, he opted to stay at Schalke and signed a contract extension in 2012.
With his contract expiring this coming summer, talks were opened a few months ago, but the 24-year-old announced that he no longer wanted to stay in Germany.
As such, Matip began talking to clubs and with Liverpool his supposed preferred destination, he has player agreed to sign for the Reds on a free transfer once his current contract expires on 30th June 2016.
Matip still remains a key player at Schalke this season having featured 22 times for the Royal Blues with them currently sat sixth in the Bundesliga table.
Klopp another new signing under Klopp
The signing of Matip will be Klopp's third signing as Liverpool manager having signed Serbian Marko Grujić from Red Star Belgrade and Englishman Steven Caulker on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season.
Caulker's arrival at the club is viewed as only a short-term solution to the club's ongoing injury problems, as no deal has yet been talked about concerning a permanent transfer in the summer.
The defender was out of favour at Southampton after being loaned to the Saints by QPR in the summer, featuring only eight times for the club.
Meanwhile, Grujić was loaned back to Belgrade following his £5.1 million move, as the midfielder claimed he wanted to achieve his childhood dream of winning a Serbian SuperLiga title before moving abroad.