Schalke defender Joel Matip to join Liverpool in the summer

Schalke defender Joel Matip will join Liverpool at the end of the season, according to reports.

Matip is set to arrive on a free transfer when his current contract with the Bundesliga side expires this summer, and reports have suggested he will be on a four-year deal at Anfield.

The 24-year-old German-born player, who can operate as a midfielder as well as at centre-back and has 27 Cameroon caps, came through Schalke’s youth set-up.

He made his Bundesliga debut at the age of 18, playing as a midfielder and scoring in a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich in November 2009, and has over 200 senior club appearances to his name.

Liverpool’s interest in Matip has been known since January, when it had appeared at least two French clubs were ahead of them in the running, while Schalke had also not given up hope he would sign a new deal with them.

The move going ahead will see Matip follow Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic — Jurgen Klopp's first signing as Liverpool manager — in joining the Merseyside outfit.

Grujic, recruited in early January on a four-year contract, immediately returned to former club Red Star Belgrade on loan for the remainder of this season and will rejoin Liverpool this summer.