Liverpool to repeat Alexis Mac Allister signing as Brighton's best player could join

Liverpool are heading for a contract crisis over Ibrahima Konate.

The France international, 26, is out of contract in 2026 and so far the club have been unable to come to an agreement over a new deal.

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If no accord is reached then Konate will be leaving on a free transfer - with Real Madrid mooted as his next destination.

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Part of the reason that Liverpool chased so hard for Marc Guehi was the Konate contract situation. The Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes tried right up until the final moments of the transfer window to land the Crystal Palace captain.

Liverpool seeking centre-back alternatives

Ultimately, the FA Cup holders refused to sanction a deal for their captain - and the Anfield club have been left a man short in defence.

There remains the possibility that Liverpool strike again for the 25-year-old - either in January or on a free transfer next summer - but competition is bound to increase for the England man.

That’s why plans to sign centre-back alternatives make sense.

Van Hecke wanted by LFC

The latest name to be linked will be very familiar to certain Liverpool stars - namely Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and captain Vrigil van Dijk.

Jan Paul van Hecke, 25, partnered the Liverpool skipper for the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw in FIFA World Cup qualification against Poland on Thursday night.

The Brighton defender did not have the easiest time of it on the night - but it looks like he is on the radar of the Reds ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window.

Van Hecke is into the final two years of his current Brighton deal - having first joined the club back in 2020 - and is now under consideration by Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle.

Can Liverpool repeat Mac Allister trick?

That’s according to a new report in TEAMtalk - which claims the Reds view the Dutch international as a player who can make the step up to the Premier League champions.

It took Van Hecke some time to get going in the Premier League - he was sent out on loan and had to settle for a bit-part role for his first couple of seasons at the Amex.

But over the past two terms he has grown in stature - establishing himself as a key player and being named as the club’s player of the year for the 2024/25 season.

Brighton have had great success in selling off their top assets in recent seasons - including Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister as well as Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella.

Will Van Hecke join them on the list?

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