Liverpool have reportedly deployed scouts to keep an eye on Freiburg midfield talent Merlin Rohl, who has only just signed a new contract with the Bundesliga side.
A product of the FC Ingolstadt youth academy for three seasons, Rohl joined Freiburg in the summer of 2022 for just £2.4m and has developed into a key player for the club at his tender age.
Rohl was largely restricted to appearances for the B team in his debut campaign, but he blossomed into an effective attacking midfielder last season with three goals and four assists in 34 games in all tournaments.
The 6ft 3in midfielder - whose primary position is just behind the striker - also started each of Freiburg's first three games of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, before suffering a severe ankle ligament tear.
Rohl is expected to spend a number of months recovering from his rupture, according to BuliNews, but that has reportedly not stopped Liverpool from adding him to their list of 2025 transfer targets.
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Liverpool 'send scouts' to watch Rohl
According to SPORTBild journalist Christian Falk, the Reds have taken a liking to the Germany youth international, who has also registered two goals and two assists in nine games for his country's Under-21s.
Freiburg are believed to be aware of the interest from Merseyside, and the German club reacted by tying Rohl down to a new contract earlier this month, just four days after he suffered his injury.
At the time, Freiburg did not disclose the length of the 22-year-old's renewal, but Rohl suggested that he could be open to staying at the club for the long term in order to reach his full potential in his homeland.
"I trust in the environment here in Freiburg and am extremely grateful for everyone that I work with on a daily basis here — they have played a large part in my development over the last two years. My goal is to reach my full potential. The surroundings at SC are therefore ideal," Rohl told the Freiburg website.
Whether Freiburg and Rohl can resist the pull of a lucrative Premier League transfer is another question entirely, although Liverpool will likely wait until the summer before making their move due to his recent injury.
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Upon Rohl's contract extension earlier this month, his praises were sung by Freiburg's board member for sport Jochen Saier, who added: "Merlin has undergone a positive development at the highest level, just as we had all hoped he would.
"He has been able to demonstrate his qualities as a footballer and his intelligence as a player in various positions and is an important part of our team. Merlin has dedicated a lot of time and hard work each and every day to developing in various areas. It's a great fit for us and we're delighted to be continuing to work together."
Who could Rohl replace at Liverpool?
Rohl has largely operated in an offensive role for Freiburg, albeit while also showcasing his abilities as a number eight, which could spell danger for both Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott next season.
Elliott can empathise with Rohl on the injury front, as the ex-Fulham starlet also suffered a severe ankle injury of his own in 2021 and is currently on the sidelines with a foot fracture.
Ben Knapton
