Liverpool identify two Premier League players to REPLACE Ibrahima Konate

Despite the Reds losing to Fulham last weekend, Liverpool fans have largely had a good week, as reports have suggested that the contract saga is finally set to come to an end.

It was announced by the club earlier this morning that Mohamed Salah will stay until 2027 on a two-year deal, which should help the Egyptian edge closer to seeing his career out on Merseyside.

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS major Liverpool plan

But it has also all-but been confirmed that Virgil Van Dijk will follow suit, with the Dutchman also penning a new deal which will seem him on similar terms to Salah, although we're still waiting on a formal announcement from the club.

As such, the transfer targets that were looked at to potentially replace the captain can now be shelved, although a more pressing matter is now set to take centre-stage.

Ibrahima Konate is out of contract in 2026, making this summer the last opportunity for him to leave with a transfer fee coming from the deal. Of course, Liverpool will want to keep him on, and he might well feel inclined to extend his deal now the futures of Salah and Van Dijk have been confirmed.

However, PSG have made an approach for him and it his situation is now set to dominate headlines until a decision is finally made on his future.

Two centre-backs who could replace Konate long-term

In his latest column for BBC Sport, Sam Mokbel has reported that Liverpool had been assessing two centre-back options to replace Virgil Van Dijk, although Konate may now be the player needing to be replaced.

He wrote: "Recruitment staff has already begun identifying potential targets, who are primarily left-footed or have experience of playing left-sided centre-back.

"Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was among those analysed, but the extent of the interest was unclear. Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen has also been watched.

"The plan they [Liverpool] put together may never now be executed, though Van Dijk's central-defensive partner Ibrahima Konate is entering the final 12 months of his contract, so Liverpool may have to make a decision on his future of an agreement is not reached before the new season."

Now on the face of it, it may appear as though Liverpool put a lot of effort into looking at players who will now not be needed because Van Dijk is expected to continue his stay with the Reds.

However, that couldn't be further from the truth.

While Guehi and Huijsen may have been ideal candidates for the left centre-back role, they are both more than capable of playing as right centre-backs.

Guehi plays on the left of a back three in Crystal Palace's system, but he is a right-footed player, so the transition to partner Van Dijk would not be that difficult to pull off.

Likewise, with Huijsen, he is comfortable playing with both feet, so the both to the right-half of the pitch would not be inherently difficult.

As such, the work that has been put into assessing the players and approaching the clubs about potential deals will not have been a waste of time. Far from it in fact.

Regardless of whether Konate leaves or not, Liverpool are looking for a new defender to add depth to the pack, because Jarrell Quansah is short of confidence and Joe Gomez is increasingly unreliable.

So fear not Liverpool fans. The recruitment team may have considered this reality in the first place, which is why we're in this position, or they may have stumbled upon a stroke of genius. Which you choose to believe is entirely up to you.

READ MORE: Liverpool ready to strike GROUNDBREAKING €100m move

But as the club approaches an extremely busy summer, lots of the ground work regarding potential targets has already been done. It will be finding puzzle pieces that work well together in Arne Slot's team, while conforming to FSG's budgetary demands, that will take up much of the club's time.

READ MORE: Liverpool have remarkable deal to replace Darwin Nunez for £50m PROFIT