Rumours persist over defensive duo but Reds to face competition – Liverpool FC Roundup

April 29, 2021
This Is Anfield

Liverpool players now have their eyes fixed firmly on the weekend as the build-up begins to the clash with Man United. Elsewhere, the media aren’t even considering the game – it’s all about the transfer market.

Konate to be ‘allowed’ to leave

Rather disingenuous from RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff, perhaps?

He now acknowledges it’s “logical” that the club will look to sell some faces, as they look to trim the squad to around 21 players for next season. With a couple of signings already made, that means departures, too.

Dayot Upamecano is heading to Bayern, while Ibrahima Konate is widely linked with the Reds – and he says the club will “further adjust” the numbers over summer, with a nod to the ongoing rumours over the centre-back.

But isn’t this all besides the point and out of his hands?

Konate has a release clause. As Timo Werner showed last year, Leipzig have no say in the matter if he wants to depart – the buying club simply has to activate it by coming up with the cash.

For the Reds, up to £40m could secure the man they seem to want, though we’re yet to fully find out the fixed price.

Champions League challengers for Bissouma

Slightly further forward but still as a defensive option, Yves Bissouma is definitely on the Reds’ radar, say the latest rumours.

But we’ll be facing competition for him from rivals who are in the Champions League next term, which it looks almost certain that the Reds will not be.

That can certainly play into the minds of players when deciding which transfer option they should take up – though Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly said if a player only wants to join when the Reds are in the CL, then we simply don’t want them.

A deal for Bissouma could also cost up to £40m, and Brighton are realistic that this could be the summer he departs.

READ MORE: Why Yves Bissouma is a low-risk gamble Liverpool must take

Time to decide

This might be a summer where Liverpool are at a bit of a crossroads, given everything that has gone on and where the Reds are with contracts. Outside the likes of Gini Wijnaldum, there are three groups in particular needing attention.

Ozan Kabak’s future is undecided, but the defender has explained how working with Van Dijk has made him learn the mentality required to be at Liverpool and become a winner
The Reds must also decide on what to do with loan pair Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo, who have been praised by their boss Mick McCarthy – and he says Liverpool must “sort themselves out” in deciding their future
Finally, the club look to be ready to at last appoint a permanent successor to Vicky Jepson as manager of Liverpool FC Women, with a former boss reportedly ready to return

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Around the Prem

Daniel Farke has brought Norwich back to the Premier League but could return to the Bundesliga himself, being on the shortlist of Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg for this summer

Arsenal want Julian Brandt as a replacement for Martin Odegaard, who they are unlikely to be able to sign permanently this summer

The Gunners also want to bin off Hector Bellerin and replace him with Max Aarons of Norwich, and we find it intriguing where they are getting all these funds from as another year of no European football beckons

And Chelsea will consider offers from around £40m for Tammy Abraham this summer – so roughly one million for every minute that Thomas Tuchel has been willing to give him on the pitch