Liverpool should ACCEPT incoming offer - this is a special case

Liverpool should accept an offer that's almost certainly on its way. This is a special, one-time case.

Liverpool had an incredibly difficult decision (in some minds) last January when Real Madrid presented an offer for Trent Alexander-Arnold. They wanted to sign him a bit earlier than the end of his contract, hoping that around £10m would get him with six months to spare.

Liverpool rejected that and rightly so - that money was never worth what he could potentially bring before the season was out. The Reds were fighting for four trophies at the time and while they ultimately 'only' ended up with one, it made no sense to sacrifice a shot at winning the UEFA Champions League.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

Because that's what losing Alexander-Arnold meant. Liverpool would never be able to find a like-for-like replacement and would need to reshuffle in order to sign someone else. Even that 'someone else' would cost a premium for a January transfer.

The club did end up selling Alexander-Arnold 'early'. One month early, really, and getting a fee for the player when he was never going to have another appearance to make was ridiculously good.

But Liverpool will have another decision to make this January, it seems. A tougher one at that and one we think will see the opposite result.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range

Ibrahima Konate's contract

Reports in Spain are gathering pace that Ibrahima Konate is to join Real Madrid. The Frenchman is out of contract in the summer and Liverpool are struggling to get him to agree on new terms.

Enter Madrid, who are doing that thing they now do every year. Convince a player to run their contract down and join them for free because there’s no better place to play.

Well, Konate’s eagerness to join Real Madrid could actually mean an offer in January, much as there was for Alexander-Arnold back at the turn of this year. This time, Liverpool should accept.

There are two reasons this is different. Firstly, Konate is not so unique a player that replacing him mid-season would lead to upheaval.

That’s not to say that he’s a worse player or a poor player or any comment on his ability at all. Konate is just a far more traditional centre-back than Alexander-Arnold is a traditional right-back.

And not only could Liverpool replace him, they actually have the player in mind. They attempted to sign Marc Guehi this summer, only for a deal to breakdown right at the death.

He will be available again in January for an even lower price than he was this summer. Crystal Palace are eager to get something for their captain, who will otherwise leave for free at the end of the season.

Liverpool, then, could accept any incoming Konate offer, move for Guehi, and sort everything out early. Eliminate any distracting talk for the season half of the season, eliminate any competition for their ideal replacement - just get it all sorted.

We think that’s the right move when the offer inevitably arrives. Even if it will be a difficult decision to make.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool agree to sell contract rebel for €55m

👉🏻 Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS Alexander Isak decision

👉🏻 Real Madrid want to use Florian Wirtz in Rodrygo deal