Liverpool ready to sell Slot’s “monster” for £47m

FSG have been unusually trigger-happy in the summertime switch market, however Liverpool’s house owners are literally simply conducting themselves with well-considered ambition.

That is no scattergun spending method from the Reds, who gained the Premier League final season after spending just about nothing after Jurgen Klopp closed his illustrious chapter at Anfield.

Arne Slot rewarded this metropolis for his or her endurance and acceptance by profitable the membership their record-equalling twentieth league title, and now he has been repaid with sweeping modifications throughout the summer season, establishing the foundations of a sustained interval of success.

Nonetheless, whereas there have been some unimaginable signings, and whereas the Anfield aspect nonetheless chase Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, a number of stars have ventured away for brand spanking new challenges.

Luis Diaz is one such participant.

Why Liverpool offered Luis Diaz

Although Diaz’s Liverpool profession has its ebbs and flows, there isn’t any denying his electric-paced, mazy-dribbling recreation added a lot to Klopp after which Slot’s tasks.

However the 28-year-old has signed for Bayern Munich for £65.5m this summer season regardless of having two years left on his contract. Widespread floor couldn’t be discovered between Liverpool and the Colombian, and so he goes for pastures new.

The actual fact Liverpool tried to increase Diaz’s contract highlights the need to maintain him on board, however phrases couldn’t be agreed upon.

There’s been numerous change at Liverpool this summer season, and the South American’s stability and consistency might have been an actual helper as Slot appears to be like to repeat a trick.

Alas, he is been offered, however FSG can’t enable the identical to occur with Ibrahima Konate, whose footballing future could be very a lot unsure.

Liverpool should hold Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool signed Konate from RB Leipzig 4 years in the past, in Could 2021, paying his £36m launch clause to reel him over to Merseyside.

Accidents have been a standard and irritating theme for the Frenchman by means of his Premier League profession, however there isn’t any query that he is from the highest drawer, hailed by analyst Josh Williams as a “monster at masking floor and coping with one vs one conditions.”

How curious that Konate’s most fruitful season within the Premier League ought to align with Liverpool’s one title triumph throughout his time in England.

And now, aged 26, the France worldwide is approaching the prime of his profession at a time when Virgil van Dijk stands on the autumn of his personal interval on the high.

He is now featured 132 instances for Liverpool, and the current season of comparatively few damage blows bespeak his athletic maturity, one thing that Slot has managed to boost throughout the board.

Having entered the ultimate yr of his £70k-per-week contract, alarm bells are absolutely ringing within the FSG workplaces, particularly when the likes of Fabrizio Romano reported means again in October 2024 that negotiations over a renewal had been going easily.

Issues are unsure at current. This wasn’t purported to be the case. What has triggered such drastic change within the intervening interval? Actual Madrid, after all, who need to hyperlink him again up with Trent Alexander-Arnold because the Xabi Alonso period shapes up.

Based on Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Florentino Perez hopes to emulate his membership’s deal for Trent by touchdown Konate on a free switch in 2026, however a fast-track of plans is not out of the query, with Liverpool mentioned to be open to cashing on this summer season for a €55m (about £47m) payment.

This can’t come to go. In truth, Liverpool would discover that they’d undergo a much bigger blow than shedding Diaz, had been they to half with Konate now.

Although the imposing Frenchman is partnered with Van Dijk, the skipper will not be round endlessly, and Liverpool’s choice to have offered Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m earlier within the window solely highlights the determined want for change.

Marc Guehi is needed on Merseyside, truly in his last yr at Crystal Palace. The England worldwide is in the same boat to Konate, however there’s absolutely a future at Liverpool the place the 2 centre-backs cohabit, for there’s a dearth of depth on the rearguard in Slot’s staff regardless of the heavy spending over the previous few months.

There’s additionally no telling whether or not Guehi would handle to rise to the event and play with the steely gusto of Konate, who accomplished 90% of his passes and gained 71% of his aerial battles within the Premier League final yr, as per Sofascore.

Provided that the 6 foot Guehi’s aerial dominance is a weak point, changing Konate with him forward of Van Dijk’s swansong could be to the detriment of Liverpool’s aerial energy (Guehi gained simply 54% of his aerial battles final season).

Liverpool’s second-best central defender has been a terrific servant, and when contemplating that he earns comparatively little at £70k per week, it is comprehensible that he needs to be anticipating to be paid his dues, particularly when Van Dijk pockets far more at £400k per week.

Finally, Liverpool know that they should throw the kitchen sink at getting the Les Bleus expertise’s new deal over the road, for shedding him could possibly be a blow that rocks the boat too arduous, not like that of Diaz, with the overload of attacking signings prone to offset his departure.