Liverpool are short of centre-back options heading into next season after Ibrahima Konate left the club at the conclusion of his contract.
The Frenchman has since joined La Liga giants Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both in the final 12 months of their respective contracts at the club, leaving Andoni Iraola short of long-term options in the heart of defence.
Jérémy Jacquet is poised to arrive this summer while Giovanni Leoni's likely recovery timeline for his ACL injury will see him return to action between August and October.
However, Liverpool must sign a replacement for Konate if they want to challenge under Iraola next season.
With that in mind, here are three options for the Reds as they explore the market.
Castello Lukeba
Castello Lukeba
The RB Leipzig defender won't come cheap, with a reported release clause in his contract in the region of £77m. The 23-year-old is one of the most in-demand centre-backs in Europe with the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all linked with the player.
The Reds need to target younger players with Van Dijk in his mid-30s and it unclear if he will sign fresh terms to keep him at the club beyond the end of his contract.
Lukeba has been described as a 'defensive goliath' and the attention from several of Europe's top clubs indicate the potential for him to become one of the world's best defenders.
At the age of 23, he could give his best years to Liverpool. Signing him would prove costly but if the Reds have the funds then it would be straightforward given the player's release clause.
Jan Paul van Hecke
Jan Paul van Hecke applauding the Brighton & Hove Albion supportersvia Reuters
The Brighton and Hove Albion defender is attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur, with the North London club already seeing two bids rejected for the Dutchman.
Van Hecke played under Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Italian hailing the defender as 'incredible' after he penned a fresh contract with the Seagulls in 2023.
Liverpool could look to him for his Premier League experience and his relationship with Van Dijk. The pair have already played together 11 times for the Netherlands.
He has made 106 appearances in the Premier League, scoring four goals and providing four assists.
He is out of contract in 12 months too.
Murillo
murillo
Sticking with the Premier League, Nottingham Forest star Murillo would prove a shrewd addition to the Reds central defence.
The 23-year-old has been at Forest since 2023 and still has age on his side. He recently signed a new deal at the City Ground, keeping him at the club until 2030.
Forest could prove to be tough negotiators this summer, highlighted by the fact they have yet to accept an offer of £106m from Manchester City for midfielder Elliot Anderson.
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Murillo is seen as another key figure in the Forest side and he is not somebody they would part with easily. He opened the scoring for Forest when they beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield earlier in the campaign.
He has become a much-loved figure at the City Ground with his unrelenting and passionate defensive style. All three players would prove incredible additions for Liverpool - if they can tempt any of them to Anfield.
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Liverpool 'Make Positive Progress' In Talks To Sign Yan Diomande
The Reds have been looking at the RB Leipzig star for some time now