1 week ago
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Liverpool can’t be accused of lacking ambition in the transfer market this summer.
An outlay just shy of $400million, or £300M, is more than even the most optimistic of supporters could have hoped for. And it might be done there, of course, with the Reds holding out hopes of signing Alexander Isak before the window shuts.
But there is one area where the club is lacking. As the summer progresses, center-back is becoming an increasingly pressing concern. Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen leaves Liverpool with just three options at the heart of defence, but Joe Gomez’s injury and early return from pre-season meant the Reds finished the summer tour of Asia with just two senior choices for Arne Slot.
Given Ibrahima Konate’s long-term future looks uncertain, and Virgil van Dijk will be 36 when his two-year contract expires, long-term planning for center-back feels like an important area to address.
Liverpool is open to adding another defender this summer, with Marc Guehi a target. The Crystal Palace man isn’t the club’s typcial target in this position - he is only really on the Reds’ radar due to the unique market opportunity that an England international with a year running on his contract represents.
But the Reds are known to be monitoring younger options in the window. Several have been linked this window such as Jorrel Hato and Castello Lubeka, while Dean Huijsen was of interest earlier this summer.
The Daily Mail has now suggested three more potential candidates in Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, Konstantinos Koulierakis at Wolfsburg and the teenage Param defender Giovani Leoni. All three are aged 21 or under.
That said, while Liverpool is known to be exploring targets in the market, there is also believed to be a sense of calm around Anfield due to the presence of Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.
Both could operate as auxiliary center-backs, something Slot has publicly mentioned, and Endo was deployed in defense on Wednesday.
Kostas Tsimikas also played at center-back, but it’s not clear if that’s a possible option heading into the season.
But it appears that sorting out Isak’s future seems to be Liverpool's priority for now. According to reports in The Athletic, the Reds have seen a first official bid rejected for the Sweden star.
Further reports from Sky Sports claim a second bid will be forthcoming, as Liverpool looks to strengthen its attacking resources.
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