Three Bosman centre-halves Liverpool could sign to replace Ibrahima Konate for free
Liverpool could lose Ibrahima Konate for nothing, but they could also replace him without spending a penny.
Richard Hughes has had his hands full in the last couple of seasons negotiating big money signings whilst also having to make sure he got the best value for money for those players who were leaving the club.
Aside from the late collapse of the Marc Guehi transfer, every other box was ticked, including managing to persuade both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to sign new contracts. The Reds sporting director has a similar problem with both Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate set to leave Anfield and no indication that they will follow the lead of Salah and Van Dijk.
Bosman deals Liverpool could land to replace Ibrahima Konate
Centre-half was already an issue, even with the signing of Jeremy Jacquet, but with doubts about the Rennes defender’s fitness for pre-season training and that of Giovanni Leoni, it is a department that looks even shorter now, especially if Joe Gomez is being relied upon again. One way that Liverpool can address this issue is by utilising the Bosman and free agent market with several good options available.
Rather than spending £100m on Micky van de Ven, Liverpool could land a centre-half better suited to the Premier League and of partnering Van Dijk in another Dutchman who has excelled in the Bundesliga and has been linked with several big European clubs already. Similar in profile to the skipper, Danilho Doekhi is a mobile stopper at 6ft 3inches tall and good with the ball at his feet. Aston Villa are one of the clubs said to be monitoring his situation.
La Liga centre-halves on the market
Real Madrid are having something of a fire sale and, despite only just being younger than Van Dijk, Antonio Rudiger demonstrated against Man City that he is still capable of handling the best strikers in the world. His athleticism and game intelligence has always kept him a step or two ahead of the forwards that he has been tasked with marking. As a starter, Van Dijk would be able to concentrate on his own job, but he could also be used to chaperone the likes of Leoni and Jacquet.
More risky would be the signing of Andreas Christensen. The 80-times capped Denmark international still has plenty of good years ahead of him at only 29, but a long-term knee injury that will keep him out until April is a cause for concern, even if his quality as a player isn’t. On paper, he could be the perfect replacement for Van Dijk in terms of style, although doubts about his fitness are more than justified.