Liverpool have an obvious solution with Ibrahima Konate as contract talks drag on.
As we approach another summer and another player entering the final year of their current contract all of this feels a little bit de ja vu. Especially with Real Madrid making advances to try to sign Konate.
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The fact of the matter is that Liverpool have been on and off negotiating over a new deal with the Frenchman for close to a year. Yet, so far there has been no breakthrough, nothing advancing on this front.
There’s no denying Konate is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. We all love Ibou, he’s a very affable character on and off the pitch.
His quality speaks for itself as well. Konate’s reading of the game is second to none. His speed, combined with his ability to cover a lot of ground and his ability to progress the ball – make him the perfect defender for Arne Slot’s system.
But there comes a time when all things have to be considered. A time when Liverpool have to make a difficult choice and make a statement.
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After the torments of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid almost tainting Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations, we can’t afford to have the same thing happen again with Konate.
It also doesn’t look good for the club to lose some of their best talents on a free contract in their prime years. Alexander-Arnold left at 26-years-old and Konate could do the same next summer.
There have been talks of Liverpool going in to try to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. This is still on the table but he feels like more of a replacement for Jarell Quansah rather than Konate.
At this moment in time, Liverpool are limited in their options because the Reds have just three senior centre-backs available. Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are the only two options available to Slot alongside Konate.
This means they are not in an enviable situation. However, as we approach August, if Konate doesn’t extend his deal by then, Liverpool have only one solution.
That solution is to sell the Frenchman and sign a replacement for him. It would make way more sense to earn £35m up to £45m for him now than nothing in a year’s time.
With Guehi potentially coming in Liverpool will be signing a solid centre-back who is Premier League proven. He’s someone who could play alongside Van Dijk and replace Konate as well.
On top of that, with Konate’s sale there will be room for Liverpool to bring in another defender. Someone who is more of a long-term project but who has a lot of upside.
For that purpose Liverpool could look at someone like Loic Bade, who is on the market right now. Or if they want to sign an even more long-term project Giovanni Leoni remains another option.
Konstantinos Koulierakis could also be another potential addition, although he is a left-sided centre-back so that would mean Guehi would have to play on the right side.
Other options could include Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton or Lucas Beraldo from PSG.
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Replacing Konate will be difficult but there are options out there in the market and Liverpool are better off bringing someone new in than letting him slip away from their grasp for nothing.
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