Wonderkid lined up to REPLACE Ibrahima Konate
By
Bence Bocsak
Bence Bocsak
There's a perfect Ibrahima Konate replacement being lined up at Liverpool.
Whether the Frenchman stays or goes is in the balance at the moment. However, the cajoling calls of Real Madrid amid a contractual impasse is not very encouraging for Liverpool.
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In the past, so often have these situations ended with the Reds' player in question being seduced by an offer from the Spanish giants. From Steve McManaman to Trent Alexander-Arnold, now Konate could be another lost to the cause.
He would be a terrible loss for Liverpool. Konate has been one of the best centre-backs in world football over the course of the last couple of seasons.
The 26-year-old is in the prime of his career and he's the perfect partner alongside Virgil van Dijk. But so be it, this is the nature of football. Players leave, life moves on.
Richard Hughes has proven himself to be a savvy businessman, and if anyone can replace Konate, it will be him.
Already, there are a number of options under discussion. Marc Guehi and Jeremy Jacquet are the favourites among supporters. The latter has a good chance of coming to fruition but Liverpool wanted Guehi regardless of what happened to Konate.
So, even if the Crystal Palace captain joins, they'll need one more to replace Konate, if he does leave on a free contract next summer.
Jacquet could be an option, but what if there is an even more obvious solution?
A solution hiding in a former Liverpool assistant coach's backyard. A club to whom Liverpool sent not one but two players out on loan.
Johnny Heitinga's Ajax is a team well worth keeping an eye on for Liverpool supporters. Not merely because he was an assistant to Arne Slot at the club, but also because James McConnell and Vitezslav Jaros are both with the Dutch giants at the moment.
They have long-term futures at Liverpool and they are not the only ones who could end up playing at Anfield.
Why Aaron Bouwman is being lined up to replace Konate
Recently, Aaron Bouwman has emerged on Liverpool's radar. An 18-year-old, right-sided centre-back (who can also play on the left-side) he's the next off the famous production line at Ajax following in the footsteps of the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Jorell Hato in recent years.
Tall and extremely comfortable on the ball, Bouwman has established himself as a key player under Heitinga, featuring in a lot of pre-season games and scoring a spectacular goal against Celtic.
He started the first game of the Eredivisie season as well, and produced an incredible performance on his competitive debut, winning 11 out of 12 defensive duels while making 10 recoveries and completing 59 of his 61 passes.
Bouwman played a key role in helping Ajax keep a clean-sheet. He's been unable to feature due to picking up a knock in the club's next three games but he'll be back soon.
Liverpool scouts are closely monitoring him. Having seen his record at youth level, where he won 76% of his 5.76 defensive duels per 90 and averaged a 92.5% pass completion rate, it's easy to see why he would be the perfect fit for Slot's system.
Bouwman is a brilliant defender. He reads the game well and he is very strong in his duels. At the same time he's so composed on the ball, he can be a huge outlet in instigating chances and breaking down opposition defences.
He's pretty much tailor-made for Liverpool.
Hughes' business with Ajax over the summer and Heitinga being at the club means this is a move that just seems written in the stars. It helps that Bouwman has named Virgil van Dijk as his idol and has admitted in the past that he dreams of playing in the Premier League.
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