Not just Jacquet: 'PROPER' centre-back is coming to Liverpool

Liverpool’s centre-back revamp continues apace.

Giovanni Leoni was brought to the club last summer on a £26m deal from Parma. It’s unfortunate that the Italian is out injured currently with a torn ACL but he will be back next season to lead the new era.

The club confirmed on February 2 meanwhile that Jeremy Jacquet will be joining from Rennes in summer. That deal will cost the Reds in the region of £62m if all add-ons are triggered and he comes in as one of the most promising defenders of his generation.

Sporting director Richard Hughes is also making moves at youth and underage level. Ifeanyi Ndukwe will join once he turns 18 - arriving on a summer deal from Austria Vienna.

The FIFA U17 World Cup finalist will probably go initially to Rob Page’s U21 squad - joining fellow new signings at centre-back in Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya.

But all these new faces could leave the Premier League champions somewhat short on experience.

Jamie Carragher says LFC will sign 'proper' centre-back

Virgil van Dijk is contracted until 2027 and is expected to see out his current deal. Joe Gomez however may LEAVE next summer as the Reds seek to cash in on the England man just one year before he too is due to leave.

The most pressing issue remains Ibrahima Konate. With the Frenchman out of contract in summer 2026 it now looks certain he will depart on a free transfer.

And while Jacquet, 20, and Leoni, 19, will surely be equipped to deal with first-team football next season for Jamie Carragher there is a hint that Hughes is planning to bring in a “proper” central defender next summer.

"When you look at stylistically what Jeremy Jacquet is, it tells me Ibrahima Konate is not signing,” the 2005 Champions League winner told Sky Sports via Liverpool.com.

"I think Liverpool are going to go and buy a proper centre-back in the summer, who I would imagine will play alongside Virgil van Dijk, and then you've got two really good young centre-backs.

"They still need to play, but one of them — Giovanni Leoni — is coming back after an ACL, so it is not going to be an easy season for him next season.

“Van Dijk is going to be on the back of a World Cup, and he's going to be 12 months older.

"So, if Konate doesn't sign, they sign another player to replace Konate — a top-of-the-range centre-back to play right now — and you've got these two as back-up. I still think they'll get plenty of games.”

Carragher: Liverpool move on from Guehi, Konate leaving

Liverpool tried to sign Marc Guehi last summer but ultimately lost out when Crystal Palace declined to do business.

The 25-year-old ended up moving to Manchester City in January - frustrating for Liverpool fans who saw their side desperately crying out for centre-back cover.

But Carragher believes signals over Konate’s departure led the club recruiters AWAY from a player of Guehi’s profile and towards Jacquet instead.

“The situation with Guehi changed, for me,” he disclosed.

"In the summer, Guehi was being brought in to provide competition for Konate — not necessarily take his place right away.

"It's got to the stage with Konate this season where if you're buying someone, it is to replace him now. Maybe he is not going to sign, and maybe he is not the same player.

"I look at Guehi and I worry about his height. The make-up of the Liverpool team — Wirtz, Mac Allister, Kerkez, Frimpong — and then you bring in a centre-back who is not the biggest... for me, Liverpool had to go and buy a giant.

"Jacquet definitely is that. The one they bring in during the summer I hope also has that."

Schlotterbeck, Bastoni, Scalvini all linked

It remains to be seen what Liverpool do next summer with players such as Nico Schlotterbeck, Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini reported to be on the shortlist.

We could see Hughes and Slot offer a lot more first-team football to Jacquet and Leoni than initially expected - but there is the possibility of a “proper” senior central defender coming to boost the squad.

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