Liverpool want €500m-rated defensive COLOSSUS

Liverpool face a tricky predicament at centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window.

Virgil van Dijk will be out of contract at the end of the season and although the club have been reported to be optimistic about securing a renewal, no confirmation has yet been forthcoming.

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Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, is out of contract in summer 2026 and negotiations over a new deal for the Frenchman are currently at a standstill.

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Reserves like Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez have not managed to impress head coach Arne Slot and it looks like the Reds will be in the market when the window opens.

Players like Nico Schlotterbeck, Castello Lukeba, Joel Ordonez and Jarrad Branthwaite have all been linked with a potential Anfield arrival and there is now a new name on the list.

Liverpool and PSG want Raul Asencio

It could well be an opportunity for Liverpool to gain transfer vengeance on Real Madrid, who look set to tie up Trent Alexander-Arnold on a Bosman.

Raul Asencio, 21, has enjoyed a METEORIC rise this season. Drafted from Real Madrid’s reserve team back in November, the centre-back stepped in when Los Blancos were experiencing a defensive crisis.

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With Eder Militao and David Alaba out injured long term, the Canary Islander has helped shore up Carlo Ancelotti’s backline and in doing so he has caught the eye of European suitors.

Marca, via Defensa Central, claims Paris Saint-Germain have already been knocked back in their attempts to lure Madrid into selling them Asencio.

Asencio release clause to ROCKET

And in the same report it’s claimed that Liverpool are also interested in the 6’0 defender. However this one is unlikely to get off the ground given the scale of the operation involved.

Plucked from obscurity, the defender was given an automatic contract upgrade when he moved up from the Castilla team. He now earns €1 million per season, with an extended four-year contract now safely tucked under his belt.

His release clause has been set at €100m, with no team likely to come forward to pay it. However, president Florentino Perez is reported to be desperate to tie down Asencio and minimise the risk of losing him.

Therefore it’s been proposed that Asencio gets a salary bump to €6.2m, increasing to €9m, and his release clause will be set at €500m.

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Madrid look to be making plans to integrate Asencio into the lineup long-term and that means Liverpool will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.