Slot has struck gold on Liverpool star worth far more than Kerkez & Huijsen
Liverpool’s season will live long in the memory, but FSG won’t want the 2024/25 campaign to stand as an outlier in the post-Jurgen Klopp years.
Luckily, that doesn’t look likely, not when Arne Slot is at the helm and thriving. The Dutch coach has been a remarkable success story, arriving last summer after several trophy-laden years in his homeland with Feyenoord.
The record-equalling title triumph must now be used as a foundation, built upon over the coming years to create another dynasty on Merseyside.
Arsenal and Manchester City will both feel their campaigns have been laced with disappointment, and they will be determined to strengthen over the next few months.
Liverpool need to do the same, especially after such nominal transfer activity in recent years. While a striker is among the priorities, it’s Anfield’s defence that could see the most dramatic shifts.
Liverpool's defensive plans this summer
Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool, but he will leave a two-time Premier League champion and one of the harbingers of the illustrious modern age for the club.
Liverpool are going to need to replace their vice-captain, even if Slot is willing to give Conor Bradley the chance to prove himself as the first-choice option. However, matters are complicated by the urgency for a new left-back, with Andy Robertson showing signs of decline.
FSG do have a name in mind. Milos Kerkez is the far-and-away favourite to join Liverpool’s ranks this summer, having enjoyed an exemplary campaign on the south coast with Bournemouth.
The Telegraph claim Wolves are growing in confidence that they can tie Rayan Ait-Nouri down to a new deal, with Liverpool ready to bin their interest in the Algerian in favour of signing the £45m-rated Kerkez.
That’s not all. Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job at the Vitality Stadium, and the Reds are keen on raiding the European contenders for their star centre-back Dean Huijsen too.
Huijsen, 20, has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League this term, with analyst Ben Mattinson even going as far as to call him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”
With a £50m release clause, the young Spain star is wanted by every top team, but Liverpool need a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement.
And there’s more going on in central defence too, with one of Slot’s superstars continuing to pad along without any real clarity on their future, and whether that will remain on Merseyside.
In any case, Liverpool have struck gold on their towering titan.
Slot has hit gold on "monster" defender
Liverpool have a self-sustaining model under the ownership of FSG. This has rankled at times, but who can say the Premier League champions have been unsuccessful over the past decade?
This model does mean that certain hardships have to be endured, with some talented players warming to the idea of a pay rise that simply won’t be granted. Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, it must be said, are the two exceptions to the rule.
However, in the case of Ibrahima Konate, it feels we have an incipient transfer saga on our hands, Reds, with the France international about to enter the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.
It’s understandable that he should want a new deal to better reflect his “monster” defending alongside the skipper, as has been said by Liverpool writer Josh Williams. However, if reports are to be believed, Konate is looking for a £200k-per-week salary to stay put.
This would make him the third-highest-paid player in Slot’s senior squad, perhaps not an unfair reflection of Konate’s worth, but maybe a little tall.
There’s also the matter of Real Madrid. That ever-present and ominous shadow that lurks over Liverpool. They are taking Trent, and now they want Konate too, disassembling and then piecing back together the right side of Slot’s backline, though in a shiny white hue.
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According to Spanish outlet Marca, Konate is very much a transfer target for Los Blancos, but given that he is valued at €100m (£85m) by Liverpool’s chiefs, they are hoping to call upon more dark magic and sign another world-class player on a free transfer.
This is quite the hike in value for the 25-year-old, who first arrived in Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 after his £36m release clause was met.
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It’s a neat reflection of Konate’s improvements on the fitness front; never has the 6 foot 4 star been so consistently available in a Liverpool shirt.
His value as one of Europe’s elite defenders is further underscored by how far he is currently away from up-and-comers like Kerkez and Huijsen, whose combined transfer value would only exceed Konate’s by about £10m.
Both talented players, the young Bournemouth duo are worthy of a move to Merseyside this summer, but they are not yet the finished article.
Konate has spent several years learning from Van Dijk beside him, completing 90% of his passes in the Premier League this season, winning 71% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.
He’s athletic and imposing, technical and tenacious. Liverpool have reaped the fruits of his labours for several years now, but he’s truly made himself known as an elite player under Slot’s wing, so important in winning the title.
Liverpool have hit the jackpot on their French defender, but it won’t feel that way in 12 months, if the ghost of Alexander-Arnold returns to take another top-tier player away from Slot’s ranks on a Bosman.
It’s paramount that FSG manage to engineer a new deal for this wonderful player. Maybe £200k-per-week demands aren’t so absurd after all.
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