Five centre-backs Liverpool could sign amid Konate uncertainty and Van Dijk succession plan | OneFootball

Liverpool invested big in the summer window but the Reds remain in need of reinforcements.

A collapsed deadline day move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi means a centre-back looks the priority for Arne Slot, who has seen Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk struggle to replicate last season’s form.

Given Konate is out of contract in the summer and with Van Dijk set to turn 35 in July,Liverpool look likely to sign at least one centre-back in the upcoming windows.

With the transfer window open, we’ve profiled five defenders who could be on the Reds’ radar.

Marc Guehi - Crystal Palace

Summer interest in Guehi will not have waned at Anfield. The Crystal Palace captain has continued to perform at a top-class level, despite the disappointment of his failed deadline day move toLiverpool. Guehi’s contract expires in the summer and he will be available to sign as a free agent.

Liverpool might prefer to get a deal done this month, offering Palace a cut-price fee to land the England international. Having seen their centre-backs struggle, Guehi would offer an immediate injection of quality and a readymade Premier League option.

Any deal could hinge on Palace’s ability to sign a replacement in January, and Guehi’s guarantee of football in a World Cup year.Manchester City, Arsenal and other European giants are also in the mix.

Dayot Upamecano - Bayern Munich

Like Guehi andLiverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, Dayot Upamecano is another whose deal runs out in the summer. The France international has been a mainstay of the Bayern Munich team since 2021 and his situation has alerted Europe’s elite.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and others are said to be keen on the 27-year-old, who has earned three career inclusions in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

What he lacks in commanding aerial presence he makes up for with accurate progressive passing from the backline. It’s an attributeLiverpool have lacked since Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit in the summer.

Nico Schlotterbeck - Borussia Dortmund

Tall, athletic and left-sided Nico Schlotterbeck could be the ideal heir to Virgil van Dijk atLiverpool. The German is reportedly considering his options at Borussia Dortmund as the club struggle to compete with Bundesliga behemoth Bayern Munich.

He’s been regularly linked with Anfield - and for good reason. Schlotterbeck ranks in the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe for progressive carries, successful take-ons, and touches per 90 minutes, and in the very top 1% for progressive passes, ball recoveries and completed long passes.

His laser-like distribution would be a weapon for Arne Slot’s side.

Alexsandro - Lille

Alexsandro is a late bloomer who finds himself on the radar ofPremier League teams. The centre-back did not play top-tier football in Europe until the age of 23, but broke into the Brazil national team last year.

Three-and-a-half eye-catching seasons at Lille have put him in World Cup contention, despite a depth of talent for the Selecao that includes Marquinhos, Gabriel, Eder Militao, Bremer and Murillo.

Last season, the 26-year-old ranked in the top 10 players in Ligue 1 for progressive carrying distance (1st), touches (3rd), passes into the final third (4th) and percentage of aerial duels won (6th). Reportedly available for around just £26m, a big move beckons.

Jan Paul van Hecke - Brighton

CouldLiverpool look to the Premier League for reinforcements? Jan Paul van Hecke continues to blossom at Brighton, where he was named the Seagulls’ Player of the Year in 2024/25.

He leads Europe’s top league this season for distance carried in possession and ranks third for passes into the final third.

A teammate of Van Dijk’s with the Netherlands, his familiarity with theLiverpool captain could appeal to Slot and his recruitment staff. The 25-year-old has expressed interest in playing at ‘the highest possible level’.