Liverpool are frontrunners for huge upgrade deal for £50m ‘beast’ Konate

It has been a irritating season for a Liverpool facet who began with hopes and expectations of retaining their hard-won Premier League title.

Nonetheless, coach Arne Slott’s group is a shell of itself, shedding 9 out of 12 video games in all competitions this fall.

In any case, Arsenal’s lead on the high of the desk stays agency for Liverpool. Nonetheless, this group remains to be stuffed with elite expertise and may be very eager on pursuing glory within the FA Cup and Champions League.

Nonetheless, the Reds are undoubtedly susceptible defensively and might want to type that out earlier than the top of the January switch window.

How do Liverpool plan to repair their defence?

Marc Guehi stays a high goal, however FSG are understandably reluctant to satisfy Crystal Palace’s £35m valuation for a participant who’s just a few months away from free company.

With a variety of high groups additionally eager on the Three Lions centre-back, sporting director Richard Hughes has named a alternative.

In spite of everything, Liverpool’s issues on the again are compounded by Ibrahima Konate’s seemingly departure on a free agent on the finish of the season.

Nonetheless, in keeping with TEAMtalk, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck has attracted the eye of the Reds, who’ve acquired a major backing of their pursuit.

Value round £50m, the German has additionally been focused by Actual Madrid, however with Los Blancos cooling curiosity, the Anfield membership might be stated to have emerged as the brand new front-runner.

How will Schlotterbeck match into Liverpool?

With Giovanni Leoni out with a long-term knee harm, Konate set to depart and skipper Virgil van Dijk turning 35 on the finish of the season, Liverpool’s backline will have to be re-installed with elite new members.

Schlotterbeck, 26, is at present probably the most dynamic centre-halves within the recreation and has been hailed as an “absolute beast” by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, together with his spectacular mixture of physicality, method and defensive energy.

If Liverpool lose Konate on a free switch this summer time, their defensive depth within the slot will take a success. However given the Frenchman’s sequence of disastrous blunders all through the season, if Liverpool act now, maybe the Dortmund star may show a fast improve and even discover himself out of the squad for the approaching months.

Konate was criticized by analyst Raj Chauhan earlier this season for his “horrible” build-up play. Liverpool have felt the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Konate greater than anybody this season.

Curtis Jones is tasked with including depth to Liverpool’s backline by drifting again in the beginning of the ahead motion.

Schotterbeck solves that tactical conundrum and fills the outlet earmarked for Guehi at Palace, however may as a substitute be suited to the German’s skill on the ball.

The defender has honed his expertise in his residence nation over the previous few years and can add a special taste to Liverpool’s backline. He’s additionally left-handed, so he may doubtlessly change Van Dijk when the day comes.

In response to Sofascore, he has received 72% of his floor battles within the Bundesliga this time period and has additionally been in a position to keep away from a single mistake that may have led to a shot or a purpose. That is in stark distinction to Konate within the Premier League, who has dedicated 4 such errors in 21 video games.

Guehi is definitely the extra fascinating signing for Liverpool this 12 months, however Schlotterbeck can be such a participant. The English recreation would not learn about him but, however they’ll if he joins the group within the slot this 12 months.

He’s driving a much bigger wave than Konate and is extra tactically in tune with the way in which Slott needs to play. However furthermore, Schlotterbeck might be the proper Guehi alternative for Liverpool.