Liverpool could land Ibrahima Konate replacement for free amid Man Utd interest

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Liverpool faces losing Ibrahima Konate this summer as his contract expires, and there are suggestions that the Reds could be eyeing up a big name for free to replace him

Ibrahima Konate is on course to leave Liverpool in the summer(Image: Getty Images)

Ibrahima Konate looks to be edging closer and closer to the exit door at Liverpool, with still no sign of a new contract.

The defender’s current deal expires in the summer, and the wranglings around a potential extension have been well documented for over a year now. Konate himself even told reporters back in November that he hoped the situation would be resolved “very soon”.

Alas, there has been no sign of a decision being made, and as the summer approaches, it seems more and more likely that he will be departing, leaving Liverpool to draw up plans for a possible replacement.

The Reds do of course have Jeremy Jacquet on his way from Rennes, but considering he will have only just turned 21 by the time the new season gets underway, it would be a big call to throw him straight into the heart of Liverpool’s defense.

A more experienced option then will be needed to offer a smoother transition from the veteran Virgil van Dijk to the new school of Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, and reports in Italy are suggesting the Reds could be eyeing up a big free transfer in that regard.

Antonio Rudiger has been linked with a summer move to Liverpool(Image: Getty)

According to TuttoSport, Liverpool is competing with Juventus and Manchester United for the signing of Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid. Like Konate, his contract at the Bernabeu expires this summer, and there is the possibility of the Frenchman replacing him in the Spanish capital.

It’s claimed that Liverpool’s interest in the 33-year-old has developed in recent weeks, and that the financial might of the Premier League could see him make a return, having left Chelsea for Madrid back in 2022.

It’s also suggested that Harry Maguire’s potential renewal at Old Trafford could have a big say in Rudiger’s eventual destination. The England international is said to be close to a new deal at United, with Juventus keeping a close eye on the situation as it could aid it in its attempts to lure Rudiger.

Liverpool.com says: If Juventus wants Rudiger, it can have him. There’s no way Liverpool should be going after him.

Yes, the Reds need a more experienced option alongside the likes of Jacquet and Leoni, but a 33-year-old who has struggled with injuries this season is not the answer.

You could make the argument that getting someone like Rudiger in for one or two years might be worth it if he’s available for free this summer, but that feels like poor planning when we’ve been watching Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk deliver under-par performances throughout this season. Liverpool needs something inbetween Van Dijk and Jacquet.