Liverpool’s favorites to sign one of the “best in Europe”

Despite the victory of the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool is incredibly active in the summer transfer window to try to strengthen their team.

The window officially opened on Sunday and the club has already confirmed the international of the Netherlands Jeremie Frimpong as the first signature of the year.

He went through the door to a direct replacement of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ended a passage to the Spanish giants of Real Madrid before the club World Cup.

Liverpool would also have concluded an agreement to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, because David Ornstein said that the German international was eager to move to Anfield.

The 22 -year -old star achieved 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Reds could bring an influential figure at the top of the field.

These new signatures could provide additional competition to existing stars in Anfield, and a player who may need to be on guard is Ibrahima Konate.

Why Ibrahima Konate could be worried this summer

The French international began 30 of his 31 Premier League appearances during the 2024/25 season, as the main partner of Virgil Van Dijk at the rear.

However, it did not always seem that this was going to be the case for the former RB Leipzig star. Last summer, initiate football reported that Arne Slot was not convinced by the central defender, because of his performance on the field and in training, as well as his record of injuries.

This was supported by the Dutch coach’s decision to go with Jarrel Quansah next to Van Dijk before Konate the day of opening against the city of Ipswich. However, the young Englishman endured half a difficult half against Liam Delap and was replaced by the French Titan at halftime.

Konate then continued to be a regular starter in the Premier League, despite these first concerns concerning his place in the side, but there were still times that could put his future in doubt.

As you can see in the table above, the French colossus was largely dominant in the duels on the bridge and in the air, but was not foreign to make a mistake at the back either.

Errors have slipped into his performances, with three errors leading to fire or goals for the opposition, in the Premier League, and that is why the club reported of the club for a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.

Liverpool Esweling Deal for the new central defender

According to Football Insider, the path was eliminated so that Liverpool concluded an agreement to sign the central defender of RB Leipzig Castello Lukeba in the summer transfer window.

The report says that the seventh place of the German team in the Bundesliga, which means that they will not play European football next season, opened the way for the Reds to rush for the central defender, making it one of the favorites to secure his signature.

He indicates that the French star has a liberation clause of 74 million pounds sterling in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool is on alert after his team failed to qualify for Europe.

The report adds, however, that the first League giants will try to use the situation to negotiate lower costs for the 22 -year -old Titan, which means that they could sign it for less than the 74 million pound sterling clause.

Konate could now be concerned about this news because another central defender arriving in Anfield this summer could create competition for his place which could see him regularly abandon the departure XI.

If Liverpool can obtain an agreement on the line for Lukeba in the weeks or months to come, Slot could have a central defender in his hands who has the potential to be an upgrade of his current partner for Van Dijk.

Why Castello Lukeba could replace Ibrahima Konate

Analyst Ben Mattinson described it as the hybrid on the left back of the left back “perfect” on the left, which could mean that he could move to the left side of the twinning with the captain on the right to replace the Konate.

The reliability of the Leipzig star, first and foremost, is what can attract a place. In 103 appearances at Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig combined, the 22 -year -old star did not make a single error which directly led to a goal for the opposition.

On this proof, it is not surprising that Mattinson also called it “one of the best defensive prospects for world football” and one of the “best U21 central defenses in the best five leagues in Europe”.

In comparison, Konate made five mistakes leading to goals in just 82 premier league appearances, which suggests that he is far from reliable as Lukeba in this sense.

This means that the niche could rely on the star of 74 million pounds sterling more to offer coherent performance without making critical errors that create chances for the opposition.

As you can see in the table above, Lukeba has also made a little more plated and interceptions per match on average at the level of the league this season, while winning a higher percentage of its duels on the ground.

Konate seems to have the advantage over him when it comes to winning air duels, although the Leipzig star is not weak in this regard, but overall, the Liverpool defender comes out second.

These statistics indicate that Reds number five should be concerned about its place in the departure XI if Lukeba crosses the door, because the young Titan has the qualities to move him next season.

Slot could improve his team by signing the French star to provide a more reliable presence at the heart of the defense compared to Konate, because of his lack of errors in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, that is why it could be an excellent addition for the club.

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