Ozan Kabak said he is fulfilling a life-long dream by securing a much-anticipated move to Anfield as the Turkish international became Jurgen Klopp’s latest recruit on Merseyside in the final hours of the January transfer window.
New faces in the squad ✍️
Welcome to Liverpool, @BenDavies1108 and @ozankabak4 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/c5zqw5VKfk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 2, 2021
An injury-crisis to key first-team defensive regulars, further aggravated last week by Joel Matip’s season-ending ankle issue. forced Klopp to dip into the market and bring in additional reinforcements, with Kabak being accompanied by Preston North End’s Ben Davies to Anfield on deadline day.
The Premier League holders sign the highly-rated Turkish international on a loan deal until the end of the ongoing campaign but do enjoy the option of agreeing to acquire the centre-back’s talents on a permanent basis for a fee worth £18 million.
As the fresh Liverpool FC face settled into new surroundings, Kabak’s interview to the club’s official website saw him admitting profound love for the 19-time league champions and for the Reds’ defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk, whom the 20-year-old labelled as the best in his position across the globe.
‘Liverpool was my childhood team, so I always wanted to come to this club, to play at this amazing stadium, in front of these amazing fans. So it’s a dream for me. Now the dream comes true,’ he said.
‘I watched ex-Liverpool players a lot of times, like (Steven) Gerrard and Sami Hyypia. I know there’s a lot of legendary players.’
‘Virgil van Dijk is, I think, the best centre-back in the world at the moment.’
‘The last three or four years he’s always been at his best. He’s strong, he’s so fast, he’s clever. So that’s why I see him as an idol. I want to meet with him as soon as possible, to be honest.
