Liverpool can still rectify rare £18m Michael Edwards transfer error

Back in January of 2021, Liverpool were on the precipice of a dangerous downward spiral. Without a registered centre-back among their ranks, with Joël Matip the last of the main trio to succumb, Michael Edwards simply had to act during the final stages of the transfer window in order to try to salvage something positive from the club's season.

The Reds' saviour was meant to be Ozan Kabak. A Turkish international, he was playing for Schalke 04 — Matip's old club, as it happens, but also one of the worst sides in the Bundesliga at the time. But Kabak was highly regarded and had been closely tracked by top clubs from a young age.

Just 20 years old at the time, his arrival at Anfield was greeted with plenty of optimism, and while Kabak showed flashes of promise, he never really settled in the brief few months he spent at the club. Though that was hardly his fault.At Liverpool, Kabak never had a regular consistent partner alongside him.

 He was still grappling with the language and the new style of play, and had injuries of his own with which to contend. All those factors certainly had an influence on his performances, which led to Edwards deciding not to exercise the £18m option to buy.

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Instead, Kabak joined Norwich City on another temporary loan spell, but this would see him once again line-up for one of the worst sides in the division — this time the Premier League — and he suffered as a result. Finally, away from toxic environments, the 22-year-old seems to be getting back to his best this season. Kabak joined Hoffenheim on a permanent deal this summer, and he has settled in with ease.

Playing as part of a back three, predominantly on Hoffenheim's right, Kabak has already made six goal contributions this season, scoring three times and registering three assists in 14 appearances for his new club.

He has also thrived defensively, winning an impressive 73.4 per cent of his defensive duels, which ranks him in the top five Bundesliga defenders who average at least seven defensive duels per 90, according to Wyscout.

Composed on the ball, and strong in the air with the ability to make an impact in the opposition's goal, there is a lot to admire about Kabak, and it seems like the youngster is finally fulfilling the potential many envisaged him to have. Aerially solid and with contributions going the other way as well, he even has something of Matip about him.

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At 20, he fulfilled his dream by coming to Anfield and donning the red shirt of Liverpool. The time may have come too soon, but perhaps Edwards himself may have been a little hasty, and committed an error by letting Kabak slip from the club's grasp.

But at this rate, if Kabak continues to catch the eye, his path could guide him towards a Liverpool return. He is certainly worth keeping a close eye on at the moment given his exciting run of form: Matip and Virgil van Dijk will not be around forever, and he could belatedly form part of the solution.