Liverpool are facing significant transfer uncertainty in the centre-back area this summer. The Reds can be grateful that sporting director Richard Hughes got a contract renewal over the line for Virgil van Dijk.
That’s because the futures of his fellow central defenders are currently shrouded in doubt. Jarell Quansah will soon be announced as a Bayer Leverkusen player with the club bringing in a £30m fee for the defender.
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Joe Gomez, meanwhile, was the subject of transfer interest last summer and could be sacrificed if the price is right.
READ MORE: Liverpool told what offer it will take to convince Alexander Isak to join
But the biggest concerns in the heart of defence come around Ibrahima Konate.
Konate talks at a standstill
The 26-year-old established himself as Van Dijk’s preferred partner during the Premier League title-winning season. But his contract expires in 2026 and so far there are no signs of an agreement over a new deal.
Konate would like a pay packet of around £200k per week in order to renew and the club don’t seem prepared to go that high. It plunges Konate’s future into considerable uncertainty as the Reds will be keen to avoid losing him for nothing.
Liverpool will accept bids for Konate
Liverpool paid RB Leipzig £35m for the defender back in 2021 but it has taken a long time to see the best of him on a consistent basis.
Now a report in Football Insider claims the Reds have set an asking price for Konateamid reported interest from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
Liverpool are prepared to accept a £40m to £50m fee for Konate if they don’t manage to push through a renewal before the end of the transfer window.
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It means a high-quality, first-choice replacement will be needed. Marc Guehi is among the leading contenders to arrive with the Crystal Palace captain in a similar situation as Konate.
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But Liverpool have got their eye on plenty of central defensive talent besides - including Jarrad Branthwaite, Jorrel Hato and Levi Colwill.