Regardless of profitable the Premier League within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Liverpool are extremely energetic in the summertime switch window in an try to bolster their squad.
The window formally opened for enterprise on Sunday and the membership have already confirmed Netherlands worldwide Jeremie Frimpong as their first signing of the yr.
He has come via the door because the direct alternative for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has accomplished a transfer to Spanish giants Actual Madrid forward of the Membership World Cup.
Liverpool are additionally reportedly closing in on a deal to signal Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, as David Ornstein has claimed that the Germany worldwide is eager to make the transfer to Anfield.
The 22-year-old star delivered 16 objectives and 14 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen throughout the 2024/25 marketing campaign, which means that the Reds might be bringing in an influential determine on the high finish of the pitch.
These new signings coming in may present added competitors for the prevailing stars at Anfield, and one participant who might should be on his toes is Ibrahima Konate.
Why Ibrahima Konate might be involved this summer time
The France worldwide began 30 of his 31 appearances within the Premier League throughout the 2024/25 season, as the principle accomplice for Virgil van Dijk on the again.
Nonetheless, it didn’t all the time appear like that was going to be the case for the previous RB Leipzig star. Final summer time, Soccer Insider reported that Arne Slot was not satisfied by the centre-back, resulting from his performances on the pitch and in coaching, in addition to his harm report.
That was seemingly backed up by the Dutch head coach’s choice to go together with Jarrel Quansah subsequent to van Dijk forward of Konate on the opening day in opposition to Ipswich City. Nonetheless, the English teen endured a troublesome half in opposition to Liam Delap and was changed by the French titan at half-time.
Konate then went on to be an everyday starter within the Premier League, regardless of these early issues about his place within the facet, however there have been nonetheless moments that might throw his long-term future into doubt.
24/25 Premier League | Ibrahima Konate |
|---|---|
Appearances | 31 |
Begins | 30 |
Floor duel success fee | 61% |
Aerial duel success fee | 71% |
Error led to shot | 2 |
Error led to aim | 1 |
Stats through Sofascore | |
As you may see within the desk above, the French colossus was largely dominant in duels on the deck and within the air, however was additionally no stranger to creating a mistake on the again.
Errors crept into his performances, with three errors resulting in pictures or objectives for the opposition, within the Premier League, and that’s the reason the membership’s reported curiosity in a brand new central defender may go away him involved this summer time.
Liverpool eyeing deal for brand spanking new centre-back
Based on Soccer Insider, the trail has been cleared for Liverpool to pursue a deal to signal RB Leipzig central defender Castello Lukeba in the summertime switch window.
The report claims that the German facet’s seventh-placed end within the Bundesliga, which implies that they won’t be taking part in European soccer subsequent season, has cleared the trail for the Reds to swoop in for the centre-back, making them one of many favourites to safe his signature.
It states that the French star has a launch clause of £74m in his contract with Leipzig, and that Liverpool are on excessive alert after his staff did not qualify for Europe.
The report provides, nevertheless, that the Premier League giants will try to make use of the state of affairs to barter a decrease charge for the 22-year-old titan, which implies that they may signal him for lower than the £74m launch clause.
Konate may, now, be involved by this information as a result of one other centre-back arriving at Anfield this summer time may create competitors for his place that might see him drop out of the beginning XI regularly.
If Liverpool can get a deal over the road for Lukeba within the coming weeks or months, Slot may have a centre-back on his arms who has the potential to be an improve on his present accomplice for van Dijk.
Why Castello Lukeba may change Ibrahima Konate
Analyst Ben Mattinson described him because the “excellent” left centre-back slash left-back hybrid, which may imply that he may transfer over to the left facet of the pairing with the captain on the best with a view to change Konate.
The Leipzig star’s reliability, firstly, is what might entice Slot to him. In 103 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for Lyon and Leipzig mixed, the 22-year-old star has not made a single error that has straight led to a aim for the opposition.
On that proof, it is hardly a shock that Mattinson has additionally referred to him as “top-of-the-line defensive prospects in world soccer” and considered one of “one of the best U21 centre-backs in Europe’s high 5 leagues.”
As compared, Konate has made 5 errors resulting in objectives in simply 82 appearances within the Premier League, which suggests that he’s nowhere close to as dependable as Lukeba in that sense.
Which means that Slot may depend on the £74m-rated star extra to ship constant performances with out making crucial errors that create possibilities for the opposition.
24/25 season | Konate (Premier League) | Lukeba (Bundesliga) |
|---|---|---|
Appearances | 31 | 23 |
Tackles + interceptions per recreation | 1.8 | 2.0 |
Dribbled previous per recreation | 0.3x | 0.3x |
Floor duel success fee | 61% | 65% |
Aerial duel success fee | 71% | 65% |
Error led to shot | 2 | 0 |
Error led to aim | 1 | 0 |
Stats through Sofascore | ||
As you may see within the desk above, Lukeba additionally made barely extra tackles and interceptions per recreation on common at league stage this season, while additionally profitable a better share of his floor duels.
Konate seems to have the sting over him relating to profitable aerial duels, though the Leipzig star shouldn’t be weak in that respect, however total, the Liverpool defender comes out second-best.
These statistics point out that the Reds quantity 5 must be involved about his place within the beginning XI if Lukeba walks via the door, as a result of the younger titan has the qualities to displace him subsequent season.
Slot may enhance his staff by signing the French star to supply a extra dependable presence on the coronary heart of the defence compared to Konate, resulting from his lack of errors within the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, which is why this might be a superb addition for the membership.
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