**Liverpool have reportedly held talks to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck after the bombshell announcement that Ibrahima Konate will not be staying at the club.**
The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of June, and following his contract’s expiry, he will leave the club permanently after Liverpool refused to pay his wage demands for a new deal.
It’s a disappointing end to his Liverpool career, but the club now needs to replace him.
According to an exclusive from [DaveOCKOP](https://www.daveockop.com/transfer-news/exclusive-liverpool-hold-talks-for-bundesliga-defensive-signing/) – an independent Liverpool news outlet – the Reds are now pursuing Schlotterbeck to replace Konate, although he’s a left-sided centre-back.
The report states: _“The Liverpool recruitment staff are continuing to do their due diligence on potential alternatives, and one of them is Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. DaveOCKOP can exclusively reveal that Liverpool has a serious interest in Nico Schlotterbeck._
_“The club has been in dialogue with representatives who are working on bringing the German defender and dialogue has been positive._
_“Talks are at an early stage and Liverpool are weighing up numerous players who could fit as a new centre back at Anfield.”_
Liverpool need to replace Konate with a top defender and Schlotterbeck meets the grade
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The only issue with signing Schlotterbeck is that he’s accustomed to playing in the same position as Virgil van Dijk: a left-sided centre-back role.
There could be some teething issues for him at Liverpool and in the Premier League if this is a deal that materialises, but there is no denying his quality.
Borussia Dortmund, according to Sport BILD, are trying to renew his contract to keep him at the club amid heavy interest from Liverpool and several other European clubs.
The offer they’re willing to make would take his wages to €8-9m per year, which Liverpool can more than likely match given that they have effectively freed £80,000 per week by releasing Konate. That equates to £4.1m per year.
This summer is vital for Liverpool after a torrid 2025-26 season that saw the club lose a record 20 games in all competitions under Arne Slot. The Dutchman is reportedly set to stay at the club so it will be interesting to see if he can turn things around.