Liverpool's dream Ibrahima Konate replacement is ready

The perfect Ibrahima Konate is ready to move. Liverpool simply must take advantage.

Liverpool are set to face an enormous decision later this year as they deal with Ibrahima Konate. The French centre-back's contract expires in the summer and reports aren't exactly suggesting a new one is imminent.

As things stand, Konate will leave the club on a free transfer. Now, things could absolutely change in the next four and a half months but Liverpool must act like they won't.

And that means finding a replacement. Joe Gomez won't be that player, given he'd be ahead of Konate in the pecking order if he was. His own future isn't exactly certain, either.

It won't be Giovanni Leoni, either. He's still only a teenager, for one, while no one can be totally sure how he'll rebound from his knee injury next season.

So Jeremy Jacquet? Again, he's very young. It's difficult to believe that Liverpool would put all their faith in the youngster as a senior partner for Virgil van Dijk.

And that's the other factor here. Van Dijk will enter the final year of his deal this summer and the Reds will want a senior figure to lead the defence in his absence.

Fortunately, the perfect target for all of this appears to be available.

Nico Schlotterbeck is that player

El Desmarque reports that Borussia Dortmund have accepted that Nico Schlotterbeck will leave them in the summer. The centre-back will enter the final year of his deal and they want to get some value for him before he departs.

Now, there's massive interest in Schlotterbeck, including from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Liverpool, though, are also there as a suitor.

The Reds have been linked for a few months now and honestly, we don't see a better option for them. We've said before that he could end up being their biggest signing for a long time if he has the ability to replace Van Dijk.

There are few players who could pull that off. Schlotterbeck, though, has the kind of game that Liverpool want - physical, quality on the ball, and consistent in the air.

He's also coming into his prime years, has led the Dortmund defence for a few years now, and has the kind of composure the Reds are after. The door now appears to be open.

And we see no better time to walk through than as a Konate replacement. Schlotterbeck could partner Van Dijk for a year before taking over as the leader of the next generation - guiding the likes of Jacquet and Leoni.

Everything seems to be coming together for this. It's an opportunity Liverpool should absolutely take.

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