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Liverpool are planning a move for teenage, 6ft 3in Schalke central defender Malick Thiaw – after he was described him as the “new Joel Matip”.

Thiaw is just 18 and has played only once in the Bundesliga, but is already highly-rated, just as Matip was when he began career at Schalke back in 2009.

Like Matip, Thiaw is described as a powerful, tall, ball-playing defender, who can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Liverpool scouts have been watching his progress closely, especially as his contract with Schalke runs out in June 2021.

Thiaw’s release clause stands at £7million, but Liverpool must act quickly because the German club are already trying to negotiate a new deal with a bigger release fee.

Those negotiations are currently on hold, however, giving the Anfield giants a chance to move in, just as they did for Matip.

(Image: GETTY)

Matip, who made his Schalke debut in 2009 before joining Liverpool on a free transfer in July 2016, has proved to be one of the biggest transfer bargains of recent times.

Despite being born in Germany, he opted to play for Cameroon and has now won 27 caps.

(Image: GETTY)

There are similarities with Thiaw, there, too.

The defender, who began his career at Fortuna Dusseldorf, has yet to make his full international debut and has choices to make.

His mother is Finnish – he holds a Finnish passport and has been part of the Finland youth squad – but his father is Senegalese and he qualifies for Germany through birth.