GENIUS Richard Hughes deal could replace Ibrahima Konate

There is a degree of uncertainty around Liverpool’s centre-back options at present. While Virgil van Dijk is safely under contract until 2027, the futures of the defensive colleagues around him are not nearly as secure.

Jarell Quansah is scheduled to depart for Bayer Leverkusen in a £30m deal. Liverpool’s resolve, meanwhile, could be tested with a bid for Joe Gomez.

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But the biggest issue of all remains Ibrahima Konate. The France defender is out of contract in 2026 and right now it doesn’t appear likely that he will sign a new deal.

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Therefore Liverpool have to face the prospect of either watching him see out his terms and leave for free or else sell him this summer to any interested parties.

Liverpool need centre-backs

Neither is ideal but that is the reason why so many centre-backs have been linked with a move to Anfield this summer.

Marc Guehi and Jarrad Branthwaite are perhaps the leading contenders but the names of Jorrel Hato, Cristhian Mosquera, Joel Ordonez, Levi Colwill, Ousmane Diomande and Nathan Zeze have also cropped up.

Liverpool earlier missed out on the chance to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth with the Spain international joining Real Madrid instead.

Could Zabarnyi follow Kerkez to Anfield?

Now the Reds have learned the asking price for one of Huijsen’s former defensive colleagues - Illia Zabarnyi - who could follow Milos Kerkez to Anfield this summer.

Zabarnyi, 22, has quietly established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League - leading to links with more established teams.

It was believed that he was close to joining Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the window but no deal has been wrapped up as yet. That delay could allow Liverpool to come back with a bid - with the Ukraine international’s asking price now set at £60m.

Premier League clubs tipped to move for Zabarnyi

That’s according to Sky Sport reporter Luca Bendoni, who claims that while PSG are still very much in the hunt, Premier League sides could strike later in the window.

“Bournemouth insist on their stance and keep asking for €70m (£60m) to sell Ilya Zabarnyi this summer,” Bendoni wrote on X.

“PSG - most concrete team pushing for him - are informed, as well as EPL clubs that could potentially explore a move for Zabarnyi later.”

Signed by Richard Hughes for the Cherries back in January 2023 from Dynamo Kyiv, Zabarnyi has had a transformative effect on the Bournemouth backline.

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Last season he featured in 36 Premier League matches for Andoni Iraola’s side and he has already won close to 50 caps for his country.