Former Liverpool star Stan Collymore has suggested that the club should consider a move for Aston Villa center-back Ezri Konsa.
The Reds are facing a period of uncertainty in the center of defense, with Jarell Quansah set to leave the club to join Bayer Leverkusen, and [Ibrahima Konate about to enter the final 12 months](https:// https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/transfer-news/konate-liverpool-contract-offer-transfer-31913338) of his Liverpool contract.
Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk turns 34 next month, and Joe Gomez is coming off a hamstring injury that ended his season at the beginning of February. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is high on Liverpool's list of possible center-back signings, but Collymore thinks another England defender should be under consideration.
"Ibrahima Konate is not what Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah are to Liverpool in terms of importance," Collymore told Caught Offside. "If they were to lose him, it would pinch a little bit. But that’s all it would do.
"I think there are better defenders around the world that Liverpool could unearth and will unearth.
"And if Konate doesn’t want to sign and commit to what is a very healthy Liverpool wage structure, then let him go.
"Would Guehi be a like-for-like replacement? No. But the beauty with Guehi is that he comes in and he is a versatile option across the defence.
"And he’s also very much a player that is a very good club man. He’s going to be a solid 7/10 and play plenty of games all through the season.
"But I am surprised that a team like Liverpool aren’t looking at Ezri Konsa in this situation, given Aston Villa’s PSR woes."
Ezri Konsa has been suggested as a possible Liverpool target
Ezri Konsa has been suggested as a possible Liverpool target (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool, Newcastle, and Tottenham are all interested in Guehi, but The Guardian reports that the 24-year-old is also open to the idea of running down his contract at Palace and leaving on a free transfer next year.
If he does leave Palace this summer, Guehi has reportedly told friends that he would prefer to join Liverpool over Spurs and Newcastle.
Liverpool has already secured the services of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, while Milos Kerkez is also on the brink of completing his move to Anfield.
And despite the spend for those players totaling around $250 million, including add-ons, the Reds seemingly have no intention of stopping any time soon.
Liverpool is in the position to spend freely after quiet windows last summer and in January, and their budget has also been boosted by the departures of Caoimhin Kelleher and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as the impending exit of Quansah.