Liverpool target Konate France team-mate for January transfer window in 2025

The search for stars to replace Liverpool's summer 2025 contract expirees appears to be in full swing, with the emergence of a transfer value for a targeted centre-back.

Like the team's attacking talisman Mohamed Salah, defensive rock and club captain Virgil van Dijk is considered a very hard act to follow.

Hence why sporting director Richard Hughes and his recruitment colleagues are reported to be focusing on alternatives for the Reds' rearguard.

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That's very much about the heart of the back four, where Joel Matip's departure at the end of last term has left Arne Slot with only four senior options for two berths - van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, utility man Joe Gomez and Academy graduate Jarell Quansah.

Left-back is well stocked with Andy Robertson contracted until June 2026, and his cover Kostas Tsimikas on the books for a further year.

Meanwhile, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is regarded as the easiest player to replace among the three who could leave on a free transfer in 2025, given his position is already being challenged by a ready-made replacement in Conor Bradley.

The Northern Ireland defender has come on as a substitute for his senior colleague in each of the three Premier League wins so far this season, and it will be intriguing to see Arne Slot starts him in Saturday's home clash with Nottingham Forest or the Champions League opener away to Milan just three days later.

BADE COULD BE GOOD FOR REDS' BACK FOUR

If finding the new van Dijk is therefore the priority, even if the Dutchman is persuaded to stay and sign a new deal, then Liverpool seem to be at least window-shopping in the same country where the shutters were eventually pulled down on a summer swoop for Martin Zubimendi.

While Hughes's solitary target for the no.6 role decided to stay with his boyhood club Real Sociedad, it can be hoped he would have more joy in prising centre-back Loic Bade away from Sevilla.

The 24-year-old is French and has already experienced life in England, albeit without making a first-team appearance during a frustrating loan spell at Nottingham Forest from September 2022 to January 2023.

Bade has shown some loyalty to Seville - the side he helped to win the Europa League in May 2023, scoring in the quarter-finals against Manchester United - by signing a contract that could keep him there until 30 June 2029. However, readers of this website and FootballTransfers.com know that long dates merely drive up transfer fees.

FootballTransfers.com has priced Bade at £16million (19 million Euros), not much more than the £10million outlay Hughes was comfortable in spending on Federico Chiesa last month.

Hughes's other summer signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili is very much one for the future - the Georgia goalkeeper will join Liverpool from Valencia for the start of next season - so the sporting director already has form for astute forward planning.

If he can bring in Bade, as early as the next transfer window in January, it could lead to Slot fielding a pair of French centre-backs if and when van Dijk becomes unavailable, temporarily or permanently.

Konate has started the season so well, as one of the beneficiaries of the new manager's edict to immediately improve three players who under-performed last term.

Bade, who earned his first call-up to France's senior squad this month, could jump at the chance to also raise his game under Slot.