Paul Merson has declared that Ibrahima Konate will leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.
Some believe Jeremy Jacquet could be the replacement for his fellow countryman, but writing in his Sportskeeda column, Merson said the Reds need someone with more experience:
“There is also absolutely no way Ibrahima Konate is signing a new deal at Liverpool! I think they will keep Van Dijk and bring someone in during the summer.”
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“Jeremy Jacquet has joined them, but he doesn’t have the experience. It will be hard for Liverpool to find the perfect replacement for Konate in the current market.”
What is Konate’s current situation?
The Frenchman is inside the final six months of his contract at Anfield and he is already allowed to speak freely with foreign clubs.
It is believed that Liverpool have not given up hope on keeping Konate, with dialogue between the Merseysiders and his representatives still open.
With every passing week, a new deal does look less and less likely, but as we saw with Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah last season, there is always a chance that a last-ditch agreement can be reached.
Are Liverpool targeting another centre-back?
There have been recent reports linking the Reds with a move for Nottingham Forest’s Murillo. The Brazilian has been mentioned as a potential target in the past, and he could be available for a reasonable price if Forest are relegated.
However, there will be plenty of competition for the defender, with Chelsea seemingly the other main suitor. It is possible that the two clubs could go head-to-head once again, like they did with Jacquet. At the moment, though, sporting director Richard Hughes is probably still focused on keeping Konate beyond the summer.
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