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Liverpool are still very active in the transfer market and fans can expect a few more arrivals before the window shuts.

The Reds have already spent close to £200m this summer and this figure will only rise in the coming weeks as they aim to complete deals for a few more players.

Hugo Ekitike appears to be the next through the door at Anfield as Liverpool have agreed a deal for the Frenchman, but attentions will soon turn to the other end of the pitch.

Arne Slot is keen to bring in a new centre-back and has been for quite some time, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi one of the names tipped with a move.

However, there is another Premier League defender who has caught their eye and he is very keen on an exit, although the Reds will face stiff competition from many top European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

With Jarell Quansah departing this summer and Ibrahima Konate looking set to depart for free in a year’s time, Liverpool really need defensive reinforcements.

Virgil van Dijk is getting no younger either and Joe Gomez cannot be relied upon due to injury problems, suggesting that this is a far bigger problem than many may realise.

Liverpool are certainly doing the right thing by looking for alternatives and they might have identified the best yet, with CaughtOffside reporting that they could make a move for Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi.

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The Ukrainian has shone for Andoni Iraola’s side and is keen on a move away, with the defender even handing in a transfer request to emphasise just that.

PSG have had a few offers turned down for the 22-year-old already, with the Cherries holding out for around £60m to let him go this summer.

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The report states that Liverpool potentially see him as a replacement for Konate, although no formal steps have been made as of yet, something that could happen in the near future.

The Reds, but specifically Richard Hughes, have a good relationship with Bournemouth and this could give them the upper hand, especially as they have already done business with them this summer after signing Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool play Bournemouth on the opening day of the new season in just under a month’s time, suggesting they will want to act fairly quickly if they are to make a move.

The Reds will be fed up to see another player linked with Real Madrid for free, and will likely want to do everything in their power to stop this from happening.

Selling him this summer will be their answer to this and with PSG interested, signing Zabarnyi, who has been labelled as “incredible” in the past, could be the perfect way to get at least a small fee for the Frenchman.

As Zabarnyi is one of the Ligue 1 giants’ top targets, Liverpool signing him could prompt them to turn their attention to Konate, and the Reds will be willing to negotiate.

Konate is said to only want Real Madrid but an appealing offer from a club in his homeland might be enough to change his mind, suggesting a domino effect could occur.

Signing Zabarnyi might cost a lot of money and more than Guehi, but at just 22, he fits Liverpool’s ‘usual profile’ for a centre-back and could help them solve more than one issue in one go.


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