With Jarell Quansah heading to Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool will need to dip into the market for a replacement at center-back. And Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been put forward as one option under consideration.
The FA Cup winner has just a year left on his contract at Selhurst Park and Liverpool might be able to strike a deal for him below the asking price that was set last summer. A year ago, Guehi was valued at as much as $93 million (£70 million) when Newcastle United submitted several bids for him.
Now, though, with the pressure on Crystal Palace to either accept less or risk losing Guehi for nothing, Liverpool might spot an opportunity. And soccer pundit Darren Bent has a theory about what comes next.
"It's a difficult one, but if Liverpool come calling, certainly with the way Liverpool are recruiting at the minute and thickening their squad, that’s the place to go," Bent said on talkSPORT.
"I get it, you may have to go there and battle for a spot, but I think Ibrahima Konate has got one year left. (Guehi) has got one year left, it might be best for all parties, including the player.
"Liverpool sell Konate to Real Madrid if they are willing to pay and then you buy Guehi, and then neither goes for free. You (both) get a fee for both players, and Guehi can go to Liverpool and start. I'm a big fan of his."
Marc Guehi.
Marc Guehi. (Image: Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Konate is yet to pen a contract extension at Anfield but the Frenchman spoke about his future after the final game of the season, insisting that nothing was decided yet.
"They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it," he said. "The rest, that I want to wait until the end [of his contract], all of it is completely fake."
After going for Trent Alexander-Arnold near the end of his deal at Liverpool, there has been speculation that Real Madrid could be lining up a similar move for Konate in 2026. PSG has been credited with an interest in him in the past.
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In January, Konate was asked during a press conference if he had come close to signing a contract extension after confirming that an offer had been placed on the table. "That’s another conversation!" he said.
"Who talked about that a few months ago? The club didn’t say anything; I didn’t say anything.
"It’s one person that said that. I didn’t know, after I spoke with the club but I think I am really focused on what happens now. We will see what will happen."
Liverpool.com says: Guehi would be a solid option as a third-choice center-back but losing Konate, should it come to that, would be a worry. The center-back situation is one area that Richard Hughes will have to dedicate quite a lot of time to in the coming weeks.