Liverpool have been in contact to sign a new defender who has been compared to both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Van Dijk and Konate linked with Liverpool exits
Despite being on course to win the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, many have predicted a busy summer of transfer activity at Anfield, including former defender Jamie Carragher. Speaking recently, Carragher believes Liverpool need to sign “at least five” players ahead of the 2025/26 season.
jamie-carragher-net-worth-sky-salary-wages-wife-age-height
“I’m excited to see where Arne Slot will take Liverpool because it looks like they’re going to win the league, but there are still so many areas to improve. He needs a centre-back as back-up to the two that we have, he’ll need a right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to leave.
“I think he needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger and that he trusts, a centre-forward to play and a left-winger. There are at least five or six players he needs to get in – three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups.”
Alexander-Isak Related
[Better than Isak: The "best CF in the world" wants to sign for Liverpool](https://www.footballfancast.com/better-than-isak-harry-kane-wants-to-sign-for-liverpool/ "Better than Isak: The "best CF in the world" wants to sign for Liverpool")
Liverpool are planning to make changes to Slot's frontline this summer.
Alongside incomings, there could be a number of outgoings, with Van Dijk yet to commit his future to the Reds and on course to be out of contract in the summer.
The Dutch defender’s partner Konate has also been linked with Real Madrid in a potential £50m transfer, meaning centre-back reinforcements could be desperately needed.
A number of centre-backs have been named as Liverpool targets, including Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. A bid worth more than £40m was reportedly being readied by the Reds, who view him as a potential replacement for Van Dijk.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is also believed to be of interest to Liverpool, with a £50m offer already being made, according to claims last month. However, not every defensive target at Anfield will cost mega money, and one could arrive for free over the coming months.
According to a report from Spain, Liverpool have initiated contact over a move to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah this summer.
jonathan-tah-bayer-leverkusen-dfb-pokal
The Reds are looking to take advantage of the fact that Tah has decided to leave Leverkusen after 10 years on a free transfer at the end of the season when his contract ends.
However, top-flight rivals Tottenham have also made an approach for the 29-year-old and Bayern Munich are lurking too. Barcelona meanwhile had even looked set to sign Tah, but the economic uncertainty at the Nou Camp means the Germany international could be on the way to England instead.
Similar defenders to Jonathan Tah Club
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool
Jules Kounde Barcelona
Josko Gvardiol Man City
Antonio Rudiger Real Madrid
Ibrahima Konate Liverpool
Tah, as per Football Transfers' comparison tool, has been likened to a number of top defenders, including Van Dijk and Konate, and after opening talks, it looks as if a move to Liverpool will be one to watch.