PROFILE
By David Lynch

Having watched Liverpool narrowly edge out Reading on Saturday afternoon, it is perhaps hard to believe that Brendan Rodgers is concerned with strengthening any part of his squad other than its attacking options. However, the Northern Irishman is taking a typically long-term view to reshaping the Reds, as his pursuit of Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby proves.

As Goal.com exclusively revealed on Sunday, the Merseyside club are preparing a summer move for the 22-year-old whose contract expires at the end of the season. But just what do Liverpool supporters have to look forward to should the transfer materialise?

Holtby was born in Erkelenz, Rhineland, to a German mother and an English (more specifically, Liverpudlian) father, Chris, who had been stationed at an airbase in the country.

Holtby senior’s passion for football had a clear early influence, but the youngster’s hopes of making it in the sport suffered an early blow as he was released from the Borussia Monchengladbach academy at the age of 14, after being told he lacked the physical qualities to progress.

He took that disappointment in his stride, however, joining up with perennial second-tier outfit Alemannia Aachen where he soon made a breakthrough, scoring seven Bundesliga.2 goals in 24 starts at the age of 18. That form saw him attract the attentions of Germany’s top-tier clubs, and it did not take long for Schalke to snap their man up on a four-year contract.

The midfielder’s start to life in Gelsenkirchen was perhaps not as smooth as he might have hoped, as he was farmed out on loan to Bochum and then Mainz with a view to gaining more experience. Regardless, the Bundesliga side’s approach had evidently worked as Holtby returned two seasons later to make 22 league starts, scoring six goals in the process.

Unfortunately for Schalke fans, Holtby’s time away on temporary deals was not backed up by an intelligent strategy of securing the promising youngster on a long-term contract. And that is how the club now find themselves on the brink of losing a prospect they have carefully cultivated for absolutely no compensation.

It is this aspect of the deal which might prove most appealing to Liverpool; their desire to snap up young players at low cost with a view to getting the most for their money is well known. Holtby’s father is likely to also be keen on the idea of his son going back to his roots, though as a die-hard Everton supporter he might not be as enamoured by the colour of the shirt.

Of course, suggestions that such partisanship might affect Holtby’s desire for a move are misplaced. Boyhood Evertonians Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Carragher can all vouch for the passing nature of such fandom when push comes to shove.

One change of allegiance the midfielder will certainly not be making, however, is from representing Germany to putting on a Three Lions shirt, having been handed two full caps by Joachim Low in the build-up to Euro 2012. This is of little consequence to Liverpool, though, beyond representing the opportunity to acquire a full international at a knockdown price.

Given they are unlikely to acquire Holtby until next season, the goals Liverpool desperately need to add are the obvious January priority for Rodgers. Securing the midfielder on a free transfer later on is a wise business move that does not compromise the club’s transfer kitty as they attempt to cure that particular ill.

The middle of the park is an area which has proved fruitful for the Reds since a move to 4-3-3 under new management, and that is doubtless an advantage they do not wish to relinquish come the summer. Whilst the club’s desire to retain Nuri Sahin at the end of his loan spell is clear, his situation is out of Rodgers’ control with Real Madrid holding all the cards.

Providing an adequate replacement for the occasional absences of Lucas is also a priority for which Holtby’s versatility makes him a fitting candidate.

All these factors contribute to the sort of sensible acquisition Liverpool have notably avoided in recent times, favouring a bizarre desire to shoot themselves in the foot instead. The Reds may not have solved their wastefulness in front goal yet, but a similar approach in the transfer market is seemingly over.

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Schalke youngster Lewis Holtby has refused to rule out a move to the Premier League in the future, suggesting Everton or Arsenal could be two possible options for him.

The German Under-21s captain – who could have played for either England or Germany – is nearing the end of his contract with Schalke, and Goal.com understands Liverpool are interested in securing his signature.

However, the 22-year-old creative force could well end up playing for bitter Merseyside rivals Everton, such is his love for David Moyes’ side. His Liverpool-born father Chris, a former English soldier, is a lifelong Everton fan who passed his passion on to his son.

“We will see when it happens. Everton are close to my heart and I always loved watching ­Arsenal because of their style of play and some of the players they’ve had,” he told Mirror Sport.

Holtby’s Schalke contract is set to expire in the summer of 2013, and if he decides to move away from the Bundesliga, a host of clubs will be ready to snap up a bargain deal.

And the midfielder revealed he could have been starring for Roy Hodgson’s national side, had the FA approached him before he began playing for Germany’s youth sides.

“I was brought up in ­Germany, but I always ­supported ­England because of my dad.

“Nobody from the English FA got in contact and it was probably too late ­anyway. Once I played for Germany Under-18s, that was probably it – I would have felt a traitor changing shirts.”

Holtby’s eligibility for England expired in June last year, but Arsenal fans will get a taste of the creative midfielder’s talents when they host Schalke in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

And despite opting for Germany, Holtby can remember the pain of England’s defeat by his chosen side at Euro 96: “I still have tears in my eyes at the thought of England losing the ­penalty shoot-out to ­Germany.

“I played my first game for Germany with the Under-18s in 2007 and at first it did feel a bit strange. My dad started calling me ‘Fritz’!”

Ryan Babel is keen to send out a message on Wednesday evening when his current club Ajax face Manchester City in the Champions League.

The former Liverpool player was purchased by the Reds for more than £11 million in July 2007 but was sold in January 2011 to Hoffenheim.

However, against City in midweek the forward is keen to show English fans why Liverpool were right to invest that £11m in him five years ago.

He told The Mirror: “I don’t think people in England ever saw the best of me. For a player to really be at his best you have to give him a certain confidence, but I did not feel appreciated by some people at ­Liverpool.

“Ajax have given me a chance again to prove myself and I’m happy for that,” he said. “The City game is a good platform for me to show the people who doubt Ryan Babel what I can do.”

However, in reflecting on his time at Liverpool, Babel revealed his disappointment with former Reds manager Rafael Benitez for failing to aid his progress.

“Rafa Benitez promised me a certain ­development, but very ­quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different ­situation. I don’t think I ever really played more than three games in a row.

“But I love Liverpool, I still have a house there. I love the fans and I have great memories of my time at the club. It was a very good learning ­process for me. Now, I am mentally stronger and I know how to deal with certain situations and different people. The people at Ajax see that.

“I have made mistakes. But, at 25, it’s not too late to give my career a good twist. I still think I can fulfil my potential and live up to what people thought I would become. I still have that ­belief.”

“Moving to Liverpool was a new world for me. I had been living with my parents in Holland and all of a sudden I was living in a foreign ­country on my own.

“Football players have to grow up very fast. It’s a tough life sometimes. It depends on the ­individual, how strong they are and how they deal with certain situations.

“England is the biggest league in the world. Of course, you have Barcelona and Real Madrid but, as a league, England is in my opinion the best in the world.

“You never know what your route is going to be. I am happy at Ajax, but if you have some fantasy and imagination you like to dream of things and Liverpool still has a special place in my heart.”

The Dutch champions host the Premier League winners Manchester City on Wednesday evening.