Liverpool lead Man Utd and Arsenal in race for £60m French defender

Liverpool are facing a centre-back shakeup in summer.

The Reds are set to lose Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer - opening a gap for an experienced stopper in the backline.

Arne Slot has been suffering a central defensive shortage all season long - having only Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez available as senior options.

That is set to change next season of course with Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes and Giovanni Leoni recovering from injury.

Even so Liverpool could do with adding at least one more. Gomez is out of contract in 2027 and the club could entertain offers while Van Dijk also only has one year left.

It might not be the right thing to do to throw Jacquet or Leoni in at the deep end - plus a switch of formation to a back three would require more players.

And in that regard the Premier League champions may have a crucial advantage over either Manchester United or Arsenal for a mutual transfer target.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd want Lukeba

According to a report in Sport Witness that trio of Premier League club are all interested in signing Castello Lukeba from RB Leipzig this summer.

The 23-year-old defender is under contract with the Red Bulls until 2029 - but is now seeking a move to the English top flight. The most recent reports value Lukeba at around €70m (£60m) and he has been a defensive rock for Ole Werner's side this term.

“As well as the Gunners, Manchester United and Liverpool are also very much in the race for Castello Lukeba,” the report reads.

Lukeba wants Premier League switch

“The RB Leipzig player would be interested in a Premier League switch. The player is very much focused on picking the club which offers him the best possibility of development.”

Liverpool will likely have a space opening up for a first-team player at the heart of defence next season but the same cannot be said for Arsenal and Man Utd.

The Gunners have around seven players who can feature in that position as things stand and United are not far behind. Therefore for the Frenchman’s development it’s clear Anfield is the right place to be.

Let’s hope he sees it that way too.

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