Liverpool want to take Ibrahima Konate free transfer revenge on Real Madrid

Liverpool could be running into a centre-back crisis this summer.

The Premier League champions could be left without vital experience in the sector if Ibrahima Konate - as expected - moves on a free transfer.

Given that Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out of contract just a year later in 2027 and you come to realise that the club have got a glaring need to add senior options.

Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni will become top-quality centre-backs in the future but it is asking a lot of them to take over from Konate straight away.

A senior, experienced defender would help facilitate the transition - making it easier to move into the new era.

Several names have been linked - not least Marc Guehi as well as Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck.

Liverpool want to sign Antonio Rudiger

And now comes a claim in Sports Boom that Liverpool are interesting in signing a high-profile free agent. With Konate seemingly destined for Real Madrid there is a possibility of a defender coming the other way.

Antonio Rudiger, 33, is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and the report claims Liverpool are monitoring his situation. Inter Milan and Juventus are two teams reported to be keen on securing the Germany international’s services.

And Premier League interest comes from Liverpool in a division where Rudiger previously played for Chelsea.

“There is also interest in England with Liverpool one of the clubs who are monitoring his situation at Real,” the report reads.

Rudiger set for new contract

However it’s concluded that Rudiger looks set to ink a new contract rather than move on from the Bernabeu. His future looked in danger a few months back while hampered by injury.

But the former Stuttgart man is now back in the team - leading Florentino Perez to conclude there is merit in keeping Rudiger around.

Liverpool may well have to look elsewhere - unless contract talks between Rudiger and Madrid break down.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 Liverpool get GREEN light to sign Nico Schlotterbeck

👉🏻 Centre-back confirms he's ready to join Liverpool

👉🏻 Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS belief £52m Liverpool target will agree move