Liverpool are reeling from the loss of Ibrahima Konate.
The 27-year-old has been with the club since 2021 - signing for £35m from RB Leipzig. The France international’s contract is due to expire in June 2026 - and it was revealed earlier this week that he would be walking out the door for nothing.
Despite being in talks with the club since November 2023 no agreement could be found between Konate’s entourage and Richard Hughes.
Konate therefore becomes one of the hottest free agents on the market - and the outgoing Premier League champions are counting the cost.
Leoni and Jacquet to come into the frame
While there is an option for Hughes to enter the transfer market for a senior defender more likely is that Liverpool source internal solutions.
The Merseysiders retain faith in Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet - two of the most promising defenders in Europe.
Leoni signed from Parma for £26m last summer - and is expected to return to preseason training following an ACL injury.
Jacquet has been a long-term injury absentee too - damaging a shoulder only one week after his transfer from Rennes was confirmed.
It would be a big ask for either of those two to feature all season long beside Van Dijk - given their fragile fitness state and relative inexperience at the top level.