Liverpool new signing is required as Konate exits on a free
Liverpool new signing – Ibrahima Konate, is confirmed to be leaving Anfield this summer as a free agent, and the scale of that problem is only beginning to register fully across Merseyside. Liverpool are left with a 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk, a Joe Gomez whose future is far from certain, and youngsters Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, both recovering from serious injuries.
A Liverpool new signing at centre-back is no longer a preference but a structural necessity. The Reds head into their most critical summer window in years with a shopping list that may be constrained by a tighter budget than the one that defined their 2025 summer. Three defenders stand out as genuinely available and credible replacements for Konate this window.
1. Gleison Bremer (Juventus) – the Liverpool new signing leading the race
Juventus have placed Bremer on the transfer list at approximately £35m, a fee that sits comfortably below his FootballTransfers valuation of €48.5m. The 29-year-old Brazilian has made 122 appearances for Juventus since joining from Torino for €41m in 2022, establishing himself as one of the most reliable defenders in Italian football.
Strong, quick, and tactically intelligent, Lautaro Martinez has previously been labelled as Serie A’s best defender. His contract at Juventus contains a release clause that is only activatable during the first ten days of August, meaning Liverpool need to move fast if they plan to trigger it. At this price point, Bremer arguably represents the best value on the market this summer.
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2. Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) – Liverpool new signing via release clause
Schlotterbeck signed a new deal at Dortmund that includes a release clause specifically accessible to Liverpool, and the Germany international has reportedly signalled his readiness to move to Anfield after this summer’s World Cup. The clause sits at €52.5m, and at 26, Schlotterbeck brings left-footed composure, exceptional aerial strength, and a reading of the game that fits Arne Slot’s high-line defensive approach with real precision. He is arguably better suited to the Premier League than many recognise.
3. Konstantinos Koulierakis (Wolfsburg)
The 22-year-old Greek international is pushing for a departure from Wolfsburg following their Bundesliga relegation. Wolfsburg have set his valuation at between £30m and £39m, and the defender appeared in 30 of 34 league games last season, drawing inevitable comparisons to Micky van de Ven’s journey from the same club to Tottenham.
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He may not arrive as a proven Premier League starter, but as a long-term investment who can develop alongside Van Dijk, the logic is sound. Liverpool need a new signing who also protects the future of their defensive unit, and Koulierakis fits that description with real conviction.