Now we know who Liverpool want to REPLACE Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool have got a problem to solve over Ibrahima Konate.

The defender, 26, is out of contract in summer 2026. And right now it doesn’t appear likely that he is going to sign a new deal.

Konate joined the Reds back in 2021 on a £35m deal from RB Leipzig - going on to establish himself at the heart of the Reds’ defence.

Last season he emerged as the preferred partner for Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool under Arne Slot won the Premier League title.

But Konate is in demand by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich - meaning that sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Slot are having to keep their eyes open for potential replacements.

Konstantinos Koulierakis emerges as No1 pick

We’ve already seen the links with Marc Guehi, Alessandro Bastoni, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ronald Araujo - and now a new report claims that Liverpool have made their No1 pick for a Konate replacement.

Konstantinos Koulierakis, 21, has emerged as one of the brightest defensive talents around in recent seasons. The Greek centre-back joined Wolfsburg from PAOK in his homeland back in 2024 - and is now among the best defenders in the Bundesliga.

Caught Offside claims Slot sees the Greece international as the best long-term Konate successor in the market right now.

Koulierakis is a replacement for Konate

"Arne Slot views Koulierakis as a potential long-term replacement for Ibrahima Konaté, whose future at Anfield remains uncertain amid contract speculation,” the report reads.

“Liverpool scouts have been tracking Koulierakis’ progress for several months, impressed by his defensive positioning and progressive passing.”

It’s not the first time Liverpool have been linked with the elegant left-footer.

Liverpool due a centre-back shakeup

Anfield Watch told you back in spring that Koulierakis was admired by the club’s recruitment department - and some inside Anfield view him as a potential “top five” centre-back in European football.

Koulierakis is under contract with Wolfsburg until 2029 - meaning the Germans are quite well protected from a transfer fee perspective.

Liverpool will soon be due a big shakeup at centre-back. Konate’s contract is running out while Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both due to leave the club by 2027.

Richard Hughes did a deal for Giovanni Leoni last summer - allowing Jarell Quansah to join Bayer Leverkusen.

But with all of Liverpool’s senior centre-back options due to see their contracts expire before 2027, don’t be surprised to see even more defenders arrive.

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