Liverpool's perfect choice to replace Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate could be on his way out of Liverpool next summer.

The Frenchman has a contract that expires at the end of the season, and right now it's not looking like he's going to be extending his deal.

Real Madrid are sniffing about for his services, and this scenario very much feels like a de javu. Konate is definitely way more likely to be joining Trent Alexander-Arnold than staying at Anfield based on how the previous saga ended.

Obviously, if Konate were to go, it would leave Liverpool very short of centre-back options. This is why Marc Guehi was targeted in the summer, because the depth wasn't sufficient already.

Signing Guehi will become a huge priority if and when Konate leaves Liverpool. But he won't be the Frenchman's replacement. Even if Guehi signs, Liverpool will need another centre-back.

This will be an opportunity for Liverpool to bolster their defensive options but also to find a centre-back a little bit more tailored to Arne Slot's system.

There is nothing wrong with Konate per say. He's a brilliant defender who covers a lot of ground and who works in perfect symbiosis with Virgil van Dijk.

But is he irreplaceable? Definitely not. Does he have his shortcomings? Certainly.

One of those is being exposed at the moment. Konate is a brilliant defender but he's not necessarily the best centre-back when it comes to his build-up play.

He's a good ball-playing centre-back, but he's not great.

Could Liverpool do better? Yes.

The perfect replacement is someone already on the club's radar. Jan Paul van Hecke is someone who is on the club's radar. Most recently TEAMtalk reported he was wanted by the Reds last month.

Now the 25-year-old is a very good defender. But Van Hecke's greatest asset is his ability on the ball.

No defender in the Premier League has made as many progressive passes as the Dutchman (52) and he ranks among the top five centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues in the metric as well.

He also gets the most passes into the opposition's final third among centre-backs in the Premier League and ranks joint third in the metric in Europe's top five leagues (57) as per FBref.

Van Hecke is simply the perfect choice for Liverpool. There's no two ways about it. He'd offer the progressive play from deep that the Reds are missing right now.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool have a NEW right-back and he's the best in the world

👉🏻 Marc Guehi is COMING: Liverpool will agree deal to sign England star

👉🏻 Liverpool legend's son is now an elite centre-back