After officially missing out on Dean Huijsen, Liverpool are now reportedly working behind the scenes to sign an alternative defensive reinforcement in this summer's transfer window.
Huijsen ignores Liverpool and Chelsea interest to join Real Madrid
With Virgil van Dijk's new deal lasting just two years and Ibrahima Konate yet to put pen to paper on a new contract of his own just one year before he becomes a free agent, Liverpool have reportedly set their sights on signing another centre-back this summer.
And for some time, it looked as though it could be Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen who arrived. Even the Cherries reportedly expected former chief Richard Hughes to snap up the defender's signature.
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He looks set to become their first signing of the summer.
As Liverpool know all too well, however, a Real Madrid call is not one that a player often rejects and Huijsen has more than just answered. The Spaniard, before the transfer window has even opened, has officially completed his move to join the Spanish giants, where he will line up next to Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold next season.
It's a killer blow for those at Anfield, who will be sick of the sight of Real Madrid following the Alexander-Arnold saga and now this. But Florentino Perez may not be done there with Liverpool.
In a repeat of his deal to sign their academy graduate on a free, the Madrid chief has now reportedly set his sights on signing Konate at the end of his Liverpool deal next summer. Losing Alexander-Arnold for free was a blow, but losing Konate for the same bargain price should be a reality that the Reds avoid at all costs.
liverpool-van-dijk-konate
With Huijsen no longer an option and Konate doubt creeping in, Hughes has reportedly been forced to turn his attention towards an alternative option.
Liverpool working to sign Nathan Zeze
According to The Boot Room, Liverpool are now working behind the scenes to sign Nathan Zeze from Nantes this summer in a move that would see them jump ahead of Bournemouth.
It's a deal that would certainly make sense, too - the Cherries see Zeze as an ideal replacement for Huijsen, meaning that the Reds could skip a step altogether by signing the Frenchman first.
League stats 24/25 per 90 (via FBref) Nathan Zeze Dean Huijsen Ibrahima Konate
Minutes 1,493 2,324 2,410
Progressive Passes 2.77 4.96 3.92
Tackles Won 1.33 1.01 0.97
Ball Recoveries 3.73 3.91 3.32
Although the 19-year-old has struggled to match Huijsen when progressing play, his numbers out of possession highlight a player who could be an ideal candidate to replace Konate in the coming years.
Included in an "elite" group of players by football talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, Zeze has only kicked on ever since. In the face of a centre-back dilemma, Liverpool could do a lot worse than turning towards the young Nantes star when the summer transfer window swings open.