Liverpool transfer rumour: Reds planning double swoop for Schalke stars Joel Matip and Leroy Sane

Liverpool are keen on bringing Schalke's versatile star Joel Matip to Anfield next summer. He has over six months left on his contract and has not agreed a new deal with the German outfit.

The Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is aware of the 24-year-old's abilities, having seen him in action while he was managing his former club, Borussia Dortmund. He was wanted by Newcastle United in the summer, but the deal did not go through as the Bundesliga side were asking for a fee of £10m ($14.9m) to part ways with him.

Matip can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from 1 January. The Daily Mail claims the Reds are looking to bring him to the Premier League on a free transfer next summer by having a pre-contract deal in the mid-season transfer window.

The German-born Cameroonian international is a versatile player, who can play as a centre-back and as a defensive midfielder. Klopp has the services of Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure as the first choice central defenders in the squad.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City man's contract at the Merseyside club runs out after the end of the season. Toure could be allowed to leave the club next summer when his contract expires and Matip can replace him as a centre-back in the squad.

Matip's Schalke teammate Leroy Sane is also on Liverpool's radar after an impressive form, which saw him net four goals and register four assists in the league. The English club's bid to sign him before the start of the season was thwarted by his current employers and it was confirmed by the club's director Horst Heldt.

"There was one or more prestigious clubs that contacted us about Sane," Heldt told Bild. "Liverpool was ready to pay money for him."

"These offers didn't at all interest us or the player. I am really not concerned about losing the player. Two years ago, Ajax made an offer as well. Leroy can have a great career ahead of him, he is on the right track."