Fresh off their Premier League triumph in the 2024/25 season, Liverpool are making significant moves in the summer transfer window to strengthen their team.
The transfer window began on Sunday, and the club has already announced Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong as their initial acquisition this year.
Frimpong arrives as a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who recently transferred to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid before the Club World Cup.
Reports also suggest Liverpool are nearing a deal for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, with journalist David Ornstein stating the German midfielder is eager to join the Reds at Anfield.
The 22-year-old midfielder had an impressive 2024/25 season for Leverkusen, scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions, indicating Liverpool might be adding a highly impactful offensive player.
These incoming transfers could increase competition for Liverpool`s current players, potentially putting pressure on Ibrahima Konate.
Potential Concerns for Ibrahima Konate
The French defender featured prominently alongside Virgil van Dijk in the 2024/25 Premier League season, starting 30 out of 31 matches.
However, the former RB Leipzig player`s position wasn`t always secure. According to a Football Insider report last summer, Arne Slot reportedly had reservations about the centre-back`s form, training performance, and injury history.
This was seemingly evident on the opening day against Ipswich Town, where the Dutch coach initially chose Jarrel Quansah over Konate to partner Van Dijk. Quansah, however, struggled against Liam Delap in the first half and was substituted for the French international.
Despite the initial uncertainty, Konate established himself as a regular starter in the Premier League. Nevertheless, certain moments throughout the season might raise questions about his long-term future at the club.
| 24/25 Premier League | Ibrahima Konate |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 31 |
| Starts | 30 |
| Ground duel success rate | 61% |
| Aerial duel success rate | 71% |
| Error led to shot | 2 |
| Error led to goal | 1 |
As the statistics show, the French defender was strong in both ground and aerial duels, but also committed errors at times.
Errors crept into his performances, with three errors leading to shots or goals for the opposition in the Premier League, and that is why the club`s reported interest in a new central defender could leave him concerned this summer.
Liverpool Reportedly Interested in New Centre-Back
Football Insider reports that Liverpool now have a clearer route to potentially signing RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba this summer.
According to the report, Leipzig`s seventh-place Bundesliga finish means they won`t feature in European competition next season, which is said to have paved the way for Liverpool to become a leading contender for Lukeba`s signature.
