Liverpool can seize a cost-effective transfer chance with a release clause activation.

Liverpool has a penchant for acquiring players through release clauses, finding the avoidance of transfer bidding wars particularly appealing. Under Jurgen Klopp’s leadership, Liverpool has secured 25 senior players with over a year left on their contracts through permanent deals, and six of these transactions involved utilizing transfer release clauses.
In the midfield overhaul last season, Liverpool capitalized on such clauses, acquiring Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion and Dominik Szoboszlai by meeting their £35m and £60m release figures. This strategy is not new for Liverpool, as they previously engaged with the Red Bull group to sign players like Ibrahima Konate and Takumi Minamino by matching their £36m and £7.25m release clauses from RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg, respectively.
In the pursuit of Naby Keita in 2017, Liverpool agreed to meet his release clause, which would take effect after 12 months. Despite RB Leipzig’s initial reluctance, they eventually sanctioned a deal that saw Liverpool matching Keita’s potential release clause of £48m, with an additional premium based on RB Leipzig’s Bundesliga performance in 2017/18. Liverpool paid an overall transfer fee of £52.75m after a sixth-place finish.
In the same transfer window, Liverpool activated a relegation release clause in Xherdan Shaqiri’s Stoke City contract following their demotion to the Championship, securing the Swiss player for just £13.5m.
Known for their opportunistic approach in the transfer market, Liverpool diligently cultivates relationships and identifies clauses behind the scenes. With plans to bolster their defense next summer, Liverpool is reportedly linked with Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura, suggesting another opportunity to secure a player at a discounted fee at the end of the season.
Currently with Japan at the Asian Cup alongside Wataru Endo, the 26-year-old has recently recovered from injury and is not available for transfer this month. However, Sky Germany reports that both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest in a future move for the defender ahead of a release clause, valued between £9m-£13m, becoming active at the end of the season.
This would entail a fee between £8.6m and £12.9m, making Itakura a potential bargain for Liverpool if they decide to pursue the reported interest. Although primarily a centre-back, he can also play at number six, and his versatility in both positions would be valued at Anfield.
Klopp ruled out the possibility of Liverpool signing a new centre-back in January despite losing Joel Matip to a season-ending ACL injury. Still, he had initially sought such a player last summer. The emergence of Jarell Quansah has prevented the Reds from being short-handed, but with Quansah’s contract expiring at the end of the season, it would be a surprise if the club did not seek defensive reinforcements in the close season.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the current first-choice pairing at Anfield. It’s debatable whether Liverpool would be willing to part with an extravagant fee, like the £75m spent on van Dijk in January 2018, if and when they seek further reinforcements at the back. However, if they desire a replacement for Matip, the opportunity to sign Itakura for less than £13m could be attractive.
Itakura is represented by CAA Base, according to Transfermarkt, the agency that also manages the interests of Quansah, Luke Chambers, James McConnell, Isaac Mabaya, and James Balagizi at Anfield, as well as former Liverpool defender Ben Davies, establishing a working relationship with the Reds.
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will pursue Itakura, as he is not the only centre-back linked with the Reds. earlier this week that Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande is another player they are monitoring. Any defensive signings are likely to wait until the summer, but with Liverpool reportedly scouting Itakura, his release clause sets up the possibility of him becoming the Reds’ latest release clause acquisition.