Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool have missed out on signing Marc Guehi but there are plenty of alternatives available as they seek long-term options for the heart of their defence
The Reds have to plan long-term for their centre-back positions. Ibrahima Konate is out of contract this summer and with no new deal in sight, he is currently poised to leave as a free agent at the end of the campaign.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both out of contract in 2027, which only leaves Giovanni Leoni as the only senior player at centre-back who is under contract for more than 18 months.
Liverpool had hoped to sign Guehi as a free agent when his deal expired at Crystal Palace but he has agreed a £29m move to City, with a big-money contract helping Pep Guardiola’s side win the race for the England star.
It leaves Arne Slot needing alternative options to bolster his back-line.
The defender has just 18 months to run on his deal at Dortmund, who could look to cash in on him in the summer if he does not commit to a new contract.
According to CFBayern Insider, the defender is keen to win titles and silverware and Liverpool - having won the Premier League title last season - could give him the chance to do that. They also report that Bayern’s interest has cooled.
It leaves an open goal for Liverpool to sign him as Bayern were able to offer him the chance to win silverware at a top European club. But with the German giants out of the running, the Reds are one of the biggest clubs left in the race.
The defender is highly rated in his home nation.
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann praised Schlotterbeck's performance against Newcastle United in the Champions League during the 2023-24 season: "He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now."
"Left-footed, a player you obviously want to see playing at centre-back but is also very versatile and can play in different positions. He can play in a back three but also, because of his footballing quality, can play in midfield," said now Barcelona boss Hansi Flick when giving Schlotterbeck his first senior Germany call-up.
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