If Ibrahima Konate leaves, Liverpool ‘definitely’ like the look of £20m replacement

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Liverpool are reportedly already preparing for the potential exit of Ibrahima Konate when his contract expires at the end of the season.

TBR Football understands Liverpool are confident Konate will extend his contract with the club despite emerging interest from the Premier League and abroad.

The 26-year-old has struggled for Liverpool during the beginning of the season, but he, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, forms the preferred centre-back partnership at Anfield.

He was believed to be close to signing a fresh deal in November last year, but the player’s entourage proposed more lucrative terms, and an agreement has yet to be reached.

Konate will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of England on January 1, and it now appears the Reds have a contingency plan in place.

Liverpool could target Nico Schlotterbeck to replace Ibrahima Konate

When speaking to Sports Mole, Liverpool reporter David Lynch poured cold water on the links to Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, but believes the club holds an interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.

“I think it’s clear if Konate doesn’t sign his new contract, they’re going to need another centre-half. I think Guehi is going to come in. I still feel confident that Guehi eventually signs, I still think that is in the pipeline.”

“Then I think the names like Schlotterbeck and Upamecano are preparation for Konate possibly going. Yeah, it looks like that’s how that’s shaping up. I think Schlotterbeck is definitely liked, Upamecano, I’m skeptical about those links, but we’ll wait and see.”

Upamecano has been linked to Liverpool as he approaches the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, but rivals Manchester United are believed to have a stronger interest in the Frenchman.

Schlotterbeck, on the other hand, is a name that has circulated the rumour mill recently, and the 25-year-old fits the profile of what Arne Slot demands from his central defenders.

Back in 2022, Schlotterbeck was on Tottenham’s shortlist before his £20 million move to Signal Iduna Park, where he has established himself as a leading centre-back in the Bundesliga, helping Dortmund reach the 2024 Champions League final.

Real Madrid are monitoring Konate’s situation at Anfield and are prepared to bring the defender to Spain, similar to how Trent Alexander-Arnold made the switch last summer. As his contract negotiations with the Reds drag on, the club are more likely to seek his replacement.

Dayot Upamecano wants to remain at Bayern Munich

When the Reds activated Konate’s £36m release clause at RB Leipzig, the club registered interest in his centre-back partner Upamecano.

The Frenchman left Leipzig in the same summer for Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, where he has become a regular starter but continues to show error-prone tendencies.

Nevertheless, it appears neither Liverpool nor Man United stand a chance, as things stand, of convincing Upamecano to leave Germany on a free transfer after he broke his silence regarding the ongoing speculation.

“I feel comfortable here, I’m happy. My agent is speaking to Bayern officials. The talks are ongoing. There’s nothing more to say. We’ll see what happens.”