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Liverpool has been told that Nico Schlotterbeck should be considered as a possible replacement for Ibrahima Konate, should the Frenchman depart Anfield next year.
As things stand, Konate will become a free agent in June 2026, and he has been linked with a move to either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. Schlotterbeck's contract at Dortmund expires in 2027, but the Bundesliga club could sell him next summer if he does not commit to a fresh deal at the Westfalenstadion.
Speaking to Poker Firma, former Germany center-back Thomas Helmer said that Schlotterbeck would be an ideal replacement for Konate.
He said: "Nico Schlotterbeck is a player that all the big clubs should be looking it. There are reports in Germany that he will join Bayern Munich because he has not signed a new contract with Dortmund.
"He is a very good player – he’s a strong left-footed central defender, and who’s very clever with and without the ball.
"I personally think he would be a very good signing for Liverpool, who might be looking for a replacement for Ibrahima Konate if he goes to Real Madrid. He could play next to Virgil van Dijk on the left – that would be a very strong partnership."
Despite the speculation surrounding Konate's future, Liverpool is reportedly feeling hopeful over its chances of tying him to a new contract at Anfield.
The center-back remains on the same terms he signed upon joining the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2021. Earlier this year it was suggested that Konate was asking for a pay rise from £80,000 ($105,000) per week to £200,000 ($263,000) per week, and updates on the Frenchman's future have been in short supply in recent months.
As things stand, Konate will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1 onwards.
However, Rousing the Kop reported earlier this week that Liverpool is confident of keeping hold of the 26-year-old and wants to tie him down before the end of the year.
Talks between Liverpool and Konate are reported to have gone well over the last week, with Konate's camp insisting that it has not agreed terms with any other club over a free transfer for the defender next year.
Konate does not give many interviews and has not spoken publicly about his future since May, when he talked about his goals with the club.
"I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything," Konate told reporters after Liverpool won the league. "I am very happy here to be fair.
"This is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don't know when, but we will see, let me say that.
"[Are the talks] progressing? Not really, but my agent met the club last week, but I don't know what will happen. I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen."
Konate is believed to have turned down several contract offers from the Reds as he has not been happy with the terms offered to him, but the latest update suggests a breakthrough could be on the horizon.
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