Hughes lining up Liverpool transfer for £34m Guehi various who’s Konate 2.0

The requirements have been set proper from the phrase go beneath Arne Slot, with the title-winning Dutchman memorably hooking younger Jarell Quansah on the break throughout Liverpool‘s opening day win over Ipswich City again in August.

A rising star beneath Jurgen Klopp, the 22-year-old had been tipped by many, together with BBC pundit Nedum Onuoha, to be the successor to teammate Virgil van Dijk, each positionally and as captain, having made 34 appearances in all competitions in 2023/24.

Below the brand new regime, the England U21 star seemingly didn’t get better from that afternoon at Portman Street, having made simply three additional begins within the Premier League final day trip.

Sidelined to the periphery beneath Slot, the academy graduate has since been surprisingly proven the door this summer season, albeit with the Reds ready to absorb a good-looking £35m payment, following that intriguing swap to Bayer Leverkusen.

Whether or not that proves the proper plan of action in the long run stays to be seen, though within the brief time period it has left the Merseysiders noticeably brief on depth at centre-back – a truth solely heightened by the scenario surrounding Ibrahima Konate.

The most recent on Ibrahima Konate’s future

Liverpool’s final senior signing within the centre of defence, Konate has loved a formidable four-year stint at Anfield, having notably began 30 league video games as Slot’s males romped to the title in 2024/25.

Nearly a assured starter alongside Van Dijk in current occasions – not least with Joe Gomez hampered by harm final season – the Frenchman ought to seemingly be content material along with his present standing at Anfield, proper?

Effectively, in line with current hypothesis, it might seem not, with prior claims suggesting that the 26-year-old is demanding a sizeable improve on his present £70k-per-week wage.

That uncertainty has been elevated as the previous RB Leipzig man solely has 12 months remaining on his current deal, with the most recent stories popping out of Spain indicating that he might be keen to run down that contract, within the hope of becoming a member of Trent Alexander-Arnold at Actual Madrid.

Amid the prospect of that free switch exit, additional Spanish stories have claimed that Liverpool might even be open to promoting Konate this summer season ought to he proceed to refuse a brand new deal.

Such a prospect has solely heightened the necessity for a substitute…

Liverpool’s seek for a centre-back

The main determine to usurp Konate’s place alongside Van Dijk seems to be Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, with prior stories suggesting that private phrases have even been agreed with the Eagles skipper.

With only a 12 months left on his personal deal at Selhurst Park, Guehi can be at one thing of a crossroads in his profession, albeit with it but to be seen if Palace will money in, having rejected a number of bids from Newcastle United final summer season.

Amid the necessity to additionally think about options to the 24-year-old, journalist David Lynch has named Parma’s Giovanni Leoni and Wolfsburg’s Konstantinos Koulierakis as two gamers who the Reds are maintaining tabs on, with the younger pair stated to have been ‘watched’ by these at Anfield.

Hyperlinks to Leoni – who has been in comparison with Madrid’s Dean Huijsen – have already emerged this summer season, whereas within the case of the 21-year-old Koulierakis, he was tipped for a transfer to Merseyside earlier this 12 months.

Certainly, stories again in February indicated that the Greek sensation might command a payment of round €40m (£34m), having solely joined the German aspect final summer season.

Why Konstantinos Koulierakis might be Liverpool’s new Konate

Raiding the Bundesliga for the brightest and greatest has been a theme of Liverpool’s recruitment lately, be it Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz this time round, or Dominik Szoboszlai and Konate beneath the Klopp regime.

Within the case of Konate, the contract insurgent was simply 22 when the Reds forked out the same payment to what’s being touted for Koulierakis, with the £35m man additionally arriving as a sizzling prospect from the Bundesliga 4 years in the past.

With 132 appearances beneath his belt at Anfield, it is truthful to say that such a deal has confirmed to be a profitable one, with journalist Rory Smith describing him as “excellent” final 12 months, whereas noting that his skills maybe go beneath the radar.

An exit might, sadly, lie in retailer within the close to future for the Les Bleus star, though in Koulierakis, a price substitute might nicely be discovered, with the previous PAOK man lauded as a very “standout” prospect by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Additionally hailed as one of many “largest skills” in Greece by scout Jacek Kulig, the Crete-born titan loved a promising 2024/25 marketing campaign, having made 30 Bundesliga appearances throughout his debut season in Germany.

Whereas the left-footer sometimes operates on the other aspect to Konate, there are similarities to be seen of their defensive prowess. Certainly, the teenager averaged 2.4 tackles and interceptions per sport final time period, as per Sofascore, whereas his Liverpool counterpart averaged 1.8 in that regard.

At 6 foot 2, Koulierakis can be a towering presence just like the 6 foot 4 Parisien, with the pair successful 59% and 66% of their complete duels in 2024/25, respectively, to additional illustrate their ball-winning dominance.

In distinction to a determine like Guehi – who boasts 132 Premier League appearances to this point – the Wolfsburg man is a comparatively uncooked expertise, though having seen the success of nurturing Konate in current occasions, why not repeat the trick this summer season?

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