Liverpool in aggressive fight with Chelsea for £300k per week Barcelona star | OneFootball

Changes are coming to Liverpool’s backline in summer.

We could see Ibrahima Konate leave on a free transfer when his contract ends.

Arne Slot would be left with a lack of experience at the heart of defence as right now it’s uncertain that either Jeremy Jacquet or Giovanni Leoni are ready to take over on a full-time basis.

There is a lack of clarity over Joe Gomez too with the versatile right-back / centre-back out of contract in 2027. Liverpool could opt to cash in on the 28-year-old in order to avoid losing him for free next summer.

The Premier League champions have also had trouble at right-back this season owing to injuries to both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley.

Slot has been forced to use Dominik Szoboszlai in the right-back position - which means losing his dynamism and creativity through the midfield.

Richard Hughes however is watching carefully and making plans to fortify the right-back and centre-back positions over summer.

Liverpool monitoring Kounde

And one player who could come in and cover both areas is Jules Kounde. In fact there now appears to be a pathway to a deal with Caught Offside declaring that Barcelona are now willing to sell the 27-year-old.

Kounde joined Barca back in 2022 from Sevilla and has since grown into a key first-team player. The Catalans haven’t been as reliant on the Frenchman this season however leading to speculation that they could be ready to cash in.

The report puts Kounde’s wage demands at around £300k per week (€18m per year) while a transfer fee to Barcelona could run as high as £65m to £70m.

Liverpool are right there for his signature - according to the report - but will have to face down aggressive interest from Manchester City and Chelsea for the France international.

£300k per week Kounde could cost £70m

“He could be made available for the right price this summer,” the report reads.

“Chelsea are now ready to try an “aggressive” push for the France international’s signature, though other clubs could also get involved.

“Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with Kounde and I can confirm they’re monitoring his situation, though Chelsea are understood to be showing the strongest interest at this stage.

“Their asking price for the 27-year-old could also be pretty high, with his valuation in the region of £65-70m.”

Liverpool's defensive reinforcements

Liverpool have been short of senior centre-back cover this season owing to Leoni’s ACL injury and a failure to land Marc Guehi.

The club were active in January in lining up Jacquet and Ifeanyi Ndukwe for summer deals while another promising youngster in Mor Talla Ndiaye was recruited.

The plan for Bradley and / or Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold meanwhile has backfired. Adding Kounde - though expensive - would effectively give Arne Slot two players for the price of one.