This summer the Reds will need to address some core issues with the squad. The lads have had a torrid season with injuries the core problem for the group. Centre back is going to be a priority area over the summer; James Pearce has said he expects Liverpool to activate the release clause for Ibrahima Konate at the end of the season.
Centre back signing needed
Last summer the club sold Dejan Lovren without replacing him.
The thinking was that Virgil van Dijk is never injured and if push came to shove Fabinho could fill in for a game or two.
Oh how naive they were.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were ruled out for the season in the autumn.
Joel Matip suffered the same fate in January having limped into 2021.
Whilst Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies were brought in as reinforcements in January there’s a consensus that the Reds’ centre back business isn’t done.
Liverpool move for Ibrahima Konate
Back in March The Athletic reported that Liverpool are working on a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate.
Since then Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the player has agreed terms on a five-year-deal with the Reds.
Now we are just waiting for something official to happen.
Speaking on the Red Agenda Podcast, James Pearce said he believes Liverpool will pay for Ibrahima Konate at the end of the season:
“We expect Konate to come in and increase that competition for places.
“We know discussions have gone on with the player’s representatives, but as of yet Liverpool haven’t triggered that release clause.
“Until that happens, nothing is certain. I wouldn’t expect that to happen until after the end of the season.”
What RTK has to say
This makes plenty of sense.
Why complicate things when there’s still so much to play for?
Furthermore the Reds need to know how much money they’re working with when Champions League places are finally settled.
Hopefully we’ll get some movement here in June.
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