Dietmar Hamann has told former club Liverpool they need to sign another centre-back if Ibrahima Konate leaves in the summer
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been told they will need to sign "at least" one new centre-back in the summer should Ibrahima Konate fail to agree a new contract. Konate is at present set to depart on a free transfer in the summer with talks over a new Anfield deal having yet to reach a resolution.
The Reds have already agreed a £60million deal with Rennes that will see 20-year-old French defender Jeremy Jacquet arrive in the summer.
There has been significant debate over Liverpool's centre-back options with skipper Virgil van Dijk turning 35 in the close season, Joe Gomez suffering fitness concerns during the past 18 months and Giovanni Leoni yet to play a full match due to an ACL injury.
And former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the Reds would have no option but to replace Konate should the France international depart.
“If Ibrahima Konate leaves, they probably need at least one more player because I think it's a big risk," he said.
"Jeremy Jacquet is a very promising young player. Bayern Munich were very interested; they thought they might have had him because it was not clear whether Dayot Upamecano was going to extend his contract.
“You just have to wait and see. I think what will be important is that when a young player comes into a struggling side, it doesn't help him.
"Hopefully in the summer things will have settled down because it makes it a lot easier for a young player to come in and do what he does best.
“If Konate was to go, which is a possibility or maybe likely, I certainly think they need at least one more defender.”
Liverpool have had a disappointing defence of last season's dominant Premier League title win and face a battle to ensure a top-five finish, although they remain in the FA Cup and have progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League.
And Hamann reckons the future of Reds boss Arne Slot is far from certain and that the remainder of the season will determine his future.
“Arne Slot needs to win at least one knockout round, probably two, in the Champions League and then finish in the top five because, financially, it will be a huge blow to Liverpool (to miss out)," he said.
“If you miss out, financially, it's a bad situation for the club. I think for Slot to have a chance to be there next season, he's got to finish in the top five and maybe get to the semi-final of the Champions League."
Speaking to Thunderpick, Hamann added: “But the question the board has to ask is: 'Are we capable of winning the league with him next season?'. There's quite a gap now.
“Then you can say: 'Well, can we make up 20 points or 25 points on Arsenal and City next season?'.
“I think that's the question because expectations rose with the players they brought in. Everybody thought we'd definitely compete for the league because we're just too good to not win games. In the Champions League, you need a bit of luck.
“Overall, it's been very disappointing. I think the next three months will decide what's going to happen.”