(Credit: Imago/Getty Images)

Jonathan Burnett

Tue 12 August 2025 18:48, UK

Liverpool are ready to bring in competition for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate after their defeat in the Community Shield.

CAS ruling to 'launch James McAtee to Nottingham Forest deal over the line'	Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ‘disappointed’ after Diogo Jota tribute tarnished	'Disappointed' Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot respond to disrupted Diogo Jota tribute

Arne Slot‘s side began the new season with a defeat after Crystal Palace edged them 3-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in normal time, with Van Dijk arguably at fault for both of the FA Cup winners’ goals.

Van Dijk and Konate started 37 and 30 games respectively in Liverpool‘s title-winning season, but Jarell Quansah‘s departure to Bayer Leverkusen has left space in the squad which Slot is now looking to fill.

Marc Guehi is at the top of Slot’s centre-back wishlist and Liverpool have pushed the button on talks to sign the Crystal Palace captain, with a £30–35million fee being discussed as his contract winds down.

Marc Guehi could be on his way to Liverpool this summer (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Guehi’s potential arrival at Anfield could set the wheels in motion for Konate‘s eventual departure, as Football Insider revealed on 20 July that Real Madrid are lining up a £20m bid for the centre-back.

Konate and Liverpool are locked in a contract dispute of their own which is yet to be resolved, as Slot looks to add to his central defensive depth by signing Guehi to provide competition for the Frenchman.

Guehi is unlikely to displace Slot’s tried and tested duo of Van Dijk and Konate straight away, as the latter posted on Instagram (12 August) to reflect on Liverpool’s defeat in the Community Shield at Wembley.

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Cody Gakpo sent flame and love heart emoji’s to Konate’s post, which said; “disappointed of course, now it all depends on how we react”.

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Football Insider Verdict

Football Insider had already reported that both Liverpool and Newcastle were ready to launch new bids for Guehi this summer, and the Reds have moved quickly to strike a potentially decisive blow in that race.

Palace faced the prospect of losing their captain for free in 12 months’ time, and bringing in £35million for Guehi is preferable to Eberechi Eze or Adam Wharton being sold for big money this summer instead.

Real Madrid’s interest in Konate will linger just as it did for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but if Liverpool can get a deal for Guehi over the line, their number five will be far from irreplaceable at Anfield going forward.

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