As Liverpool gear up for the new season under manager Arne Slot, Kasimpasa’s young defender Yasin Ozcan has emerged as a potential transfer target according to Liverpool Echo [via Turkish publication Aslinda]

Centre-Back a Priority Area

The Reds are actively seeking reinforcements in central defense. While Lille’s Lenny Yoro has been a known target, reports from Turkey suggest Ozcan is also being monitored.

READ: Who is Arda Guler? The 18-year-old ‘Turkish Messi’ Wanted by Europe’s Biggest Clubs

Long-Term Tracking of Ozcan

According to Turkish outlet Aslinda, Liverpool has been keeping tabs on the 18-year-old defender “for a long time.”

Versatile Defender with Early Promise

A product of the Kasimpasa academy, Ozcan primarily plays center-back but can also slot in at left-back. He made his professional debut in the Turkish Super Lig at the tender age of 16 in August 2022.

I wrote about Ozcan in Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football.

Since then, he has amassed 60 appearances for Kasimpasa, even chipping in with 5 goals and 2 assists.

European clubs have been scouting Turkish talents to discover promising players early.

The Turkish Super Lig has been exporting high quality young players over recent years with the likes of Arda Guler joining Real Madrid while Ahmetcan Kaplan joined Ajax and Yunus Emre Konak was snapped up by Brentford.

Kasimpasa Acknowledges Interest

Kasimpasa manager Sami Uğurlu recently confirmed interest in Ozcan from an unnamed club, hinting at possible competition for Liverpool from elsewhere in Europe.

Will Ozcan Be Slot’s First Signing?

Whether Ozcan becomes the first signing of the Slot era at Liverpool remains to be seen. However, his talent and potential make him an interesting option for the Reds as they look to bolster their defensive options.