There's a tense and nervy atmosphere on Merseyside that is only going to intensify as club football resumes in two days. Liverpool are entering the business stages of the season with so much on the line.
In a week's time, Arne Slot's side could be out of the FA Cup and on the brink of elimination from the Champions League. Of course, the inverse could also be true, but the Reds have shown few signs of fluency and ability to turn it on when it matters throughout the campaign.
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Whether Liverpool will end this turbulent term on a positive note remains to be seen, with the prospect that they might not even finish fourth/fifth in the Premier League a big concern.
They need to cross the finish line in a respectable position, else it will disrupt their summer transfer plans and their capacity to revamp the broken backline.
Liverpool receive boost in bid for centre-back
Ibrahima Konate's Anfield contract is set to expire at the end of June. The French centre-back has been a polarising figure on Merseyside this season, yet he is one of the most valuable defenders in world football.
He will have no shortage of suitors, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all linked.
Jeremy Jacquet has already been signed for £60m. The young Les Bleus hopeful will leave Rennes at the end of the campaign and help define the next defensive age in Liverpool.
Giovanni Leoni, 19, is also working toward a return from the cruel ACL injury that he sustained on his debut against Southampton in September. He's anticipated to return to training before the end of the month, though whether he will play a part before pre-season is another question.
With that in mind, Liverpool might want to add some more defensive depth, and indeed, they have been boosted by Nico Schlotterbeck's hesitance to renew his contract with Borussia Dortmund.
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That's according to Caught Offside, who claim that rising interest from Liverpool and Manchester United has put a pause on negotiations.
Schlotterbeck, 26, is in the next-to-last year of his deal, and previous reports suggest he has a £50m price tag.
Why Liverpool want Nico Schlotterbeck
We haven't even addressed the elephant in the room: all-powerful captain Virgil van Dijk is reaching the end of his penultimate year at Liverpool. He turns 35 in July and has arguably started to wane.
Kerkez, Van Dijk and Salah for Liverpool
In Schlotterbeck, Liverpool could sign the perfect long-term replacement, someone who can upgrade on Konate in the intervening period. Hailed as an "absolute beast" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the German stands at 6 foot 3 and is progressive both athletically and on the ball.
His performances in the Bundesliga this season have been inspired, far outweighing Konate's in the Premier League.
Liverpool's towering defender boasts strength and skill. He provides a punch and knows his way around a penetrative pass. However, he hasn't brought it all together this season, and Schlotterbeck is playing like the more refined man.
League Form (2025/26)
Stats (per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals + assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Chances created*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels won*
Errors made
Moreover, Schlotterbeck is far less susceptible to making mistakes, something that has tagged Konate throughout the season and been at the crux of many of Liverpool's woes.
Stability leads to success. Arsenal are a testament of that. Konate is a Premier League champion, but he's hardly performed like one this year, and given the finances that would be involved in tying him down to a new contract at Anfield, it's fair to say that change might be the right move - especially with Leoni and Jacquet to look forward to.
Adding Schlotterbeck to that mix would be a significant statement of intent from a Liverpool side who are desperate to hit illustrious heights once more.
Schlotterbeck has been in inspired form for the Yellow Wall this season, and he has the mix of physical might and technical qualities, range on the ball, to not only upgrade on the shaky Konate but succeed the skipper when that time comes.
Liverpool won't be able to complete this feat without Champions League football, but that only emphasises the importance of finding some late-season form under Slot's wing.
jurgen-klopp-liverpool-premier-league Related
[Their new Klopp: Liverpool could hire the "best young coach in Europe"](https://www.footballfancast.com/liverpool-new-klopp-fsg-could-appoint-alonso-alternative-nagelsmann/ "Their new Klopp: Liverpool could hire the "best young coach in Europe"")
Arne Slot's position as Liverpool's head coach is becoming more and more tenuous.