Bad news: New Liverpool signing suffers injury setback

Liverpool have got some problems to solve at centre-back.

The Reds lost Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer with the Frenchman joining Real Madrid at the end of his contract.

Joe Gomez meanwhile has been injured on the preseason tour and isn’t expected to be fit for the start of the Premier League season.

He joins Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines with the £26m Italian still on his way back after a devastating ACL injury last year.

Any hopes the 2024/25 Premier League champions may have had of using Ifeanyi Ndukwe as an option this coming season have also dried up.

The 18-year-old Austrian is leaving on loan because he is having complications over a work permit.

Liverpool wanted Jeremy Jacquet fit for preseason tour

Much therefore will be expected from Jeremy Jacquet - at least at the outset of the 2026/27 campaign. It looks like Andoni Iraola will have little choice other than to turn to the £60m signing from Rennes - despite his rookie status in the squad.

The 21-year-old - picked as Konate’s successor at No5 - will likely be Virgil van Dijk’s preferred partner once the season kicks off.

The France under-21 international hasn’t kicked a ball in anger since February - when he suffered a shoulder injury just a week after sealing his passage to Anfield.

Jacquet set to miss out versus Leeds

Jacquet was sent for surgery while still at origin club Rennes and Liverpool were hoping to have him on board for the preseason tour of the United States.

The games versus Sunderland and Wrexham were reckoned to come too early in his recovery but Sunday’s clash against Leeds United was pencilled in for an unofficial debut.

Now however it’s been confirmed that Jacquet is not ready after all and may not be available for the game against the West Yorkshire side.

Liverpool must be careful with Jacquet admits Iraola

“Jeremy Jacquet missed training but was in the gym as the club carefully manage his recovery from the shoulder injury he sustained in February,” a report reads on BBC Sport.

“The centre-back is a doubt for the weekend, despite Iraola suggesting earlier in the week that he would feature.”

That stance was reiterated by the new Reds coach - with the 44-year-old admitting that Jacquet will need to be managed carefully with so many other centre-backs out of commission.

Jacquet suffering discomfort

“With Jeremy we still don’t know if it’s worth it or not to put him in against Leeds,” said the Basque tactico.

“He did the first part of the pre-season, let’s say, very well. Now he’s feeling some discomfort, so we don’t want to rush him.

“He comes from a lot of months without playing. And obviously I would like to try with him with Virgil when he recovers, because with the injury of Joe we’ve been without senior centre-backs.

"But we have to be careful with Jeremy, yes.”