Bayern open Schlotterbeck talks as Liverpool transfer killed

Nico Schlotterbeck was reportedly the subject of an official ‘enquiry’ from Bayern Munich.

Florian Plettenberg now claims that the Bundesliga giants have expressed interest.

This follows a prior report insisting that Liverpool, heavily linked with the Dortmund defender, are not planning to sign the player in the January transfer window.

@farrellkeeling96 🚨 Could Liverpool be lining up a January move for Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck? #fyp #lfc #schlotterbeck #nicoschlotterbeck #dortmund ♬ original sound – Farrell Keeling

Is this Liverpool transfer dead in the water?

According to the Sky Germany journalist, Liverpool are going to keep their powder dry – at least as far as the Bayern-linked centre-back is concerned.

That’s, perhaps, a little surprising in light of Giovanni Leoni’s long-term injury (ACL). Not to mention Joe Gomez’s well-documented injury proneness.

Ibrahima Konate, likewise, hasn’t helped matters with his mixed start to the 2025/26 season, prompting serious concern over the future of the Reds’ backline.

🚨❌ Rumours linking Liverpool with Nico #Schlotterbeck are wide of the mark.

There are no concrete plans regarding a #LFC move for Schlotterbeck in the next two windows.

Borussia Dortmund want to extend beyond 2027. FC Bayern interested. Top defender. #BVB @SkySportDE 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/AnRn96ZI22

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 16, 2025

Whether this is Liverpool’s recruitment team simply looking to batten down the hatches following a surge of recent reports, however, remains to be seen.

Either way, if Plettenberg’s latest update on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday evening is to be taken as gospel, Bayern Munich are said to be prepared to fill the void.

🚨⚫️🟡 FC Bayern have made an enquiry about Nico #Schlotterbeck and have expressed their interest, should he decide not to extend his contract, as revealed last week. Nothing more has happened at this stage.

⚠️ #BVB are optimistic that he will extend his contract beyond 2027. He… pic.twitter.com/dW67MbkJqf

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 16, 2025

To be totally honest, though, we’re not convinced that the Reds are 100% out of the picture.

By all accounts, Liverpool were said to admire Schlotterbeck as a potential Virgil van Dijk successor. More to the point, sources from Germany Empire of the Kop spoke to have indicated that the Bundesliga centre-back would be interested in a proposal from the Premier League champions.

So, there is at least some interest from both sides.

Are Bayern going to beat Liverpool to Nico Schlotterbeck?

Nico Schlotterbeck provided a timely reminder of his qualities during Germany’s 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in their World Cup qualifier.

The German media showered the 25-year-old with praise. Meanwhile, reports gathered around Liverpool’s mounting interest in the BVB star and the prospect of a mid-season move.

However, for the time being at least, it would seem that FC Bayern have taken the lead in the race.

We still think this is a transfer that’s unlikely to be resolved before the summer transfer window.

* Nico Schlotterbeck’s stats in the 2025/26  Bundesliga season for Dortmund (Fotmob)

The Bundesliga leaders were operating under a strict loans-only policy in the prior summer market – so we can’t see them coming to the table with a bid likely in excess of £60m in January. Indeed, a report from Sky Sports Switzerland claimed the player was valued at £60m in March this year.

Liverpool’s funds, on the other hand, haven’t been totally depleted, even after their summer exploits.

Keep your eyes peeled on this story as we approach the January window.

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