Liverpool to complete RIDICULOUS €30m January centre-back deal

Liverpool have got several problems to solve at centre-back.

The club began the process of overhauling the department back in the summer transfer window. It was decided to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £30m and the homegrown player was replaced by Giovanni Leoni.

But disaster struck for the £26m signing from Parma as he was injured on debut. The 18-year-old won’t play again this season having torn an ACL.

Liverpool are down to three senior options at centre-back as a result of Leoni’s injury - meaning their failure to land Marc Guehi looks all the worse in hindsight.

Richard Hughes tried to buy the Crystal Palace captain on deadline day for £35m but the FA Cup holders backed out of the move. Liverpool may well come back in for Guehi on a free next summer but are going to face increased competition for his signature.

Last chance to sell Konate?

In the meantime, there are questions to answer over Gomez and Konate in particular. Gomez, 28, is out of contract in 2027 and could be SOLD in order to generate revenues.

And Konate - most pressingly - is out of contract in 2026 and if no breakthrough is reached over a new deal then he will be leaving on a free next summer.

January therefore represents the Premier League champions’ last chance to earn some money back on the 26-year-old - who joined for £35m back in 2021 from RB Leipzig.

According to a new report in El Nacional, Liverpool plan to offer Konate to No1 suitors Real Madrid on a knockdown fee in the winter window.

Konate available at RIDICULOUS fee

Konate offered to Real Madrid

The club are prepared to sanction an emergency sale - and the proceeds could well be channelled into finding a long-term replacement for the France international.

“Faced with the real risk of Konaté leaving for free in June 2026, Arne Slot has made his move,” reads a report.

“The Dutch manager, aware that he needs to lighten the squad and generate revenue, is trying to convince Xabi Alonso to take the center-back for a ridiculously low fee.

“Konaté's market value is estimated at around €55 million, but Slot would be willing to let him go for just €30 million in the winter transfer window.

“This emergency sale would allow Liverpool to receive a significant sum before the player can negotiate as a free agent starting in January.”

Konate is being primed for a free transfer deal by Madrid next summer and joining Los Blancos in January would surely rule out a big signing-on fee for the defender.

But Liverpool need a big replenishment in the sector over the next couple of years - with Konate tipped to become the next major departure.

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