Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Liverpool have some tough decisions to make this summer but need to sell some players to balance the books.

The Reds have been non-stop in the transfer window and the number of incomings does not look like it has stopped just yet.

So far, they have spent around £186m on three players – that includes Milos Kerkez’s impending transfer – although their outgoings fall very far short of that number.

They have made around £25m from sales and compensation this summer, soon to be closer to £55m when Jarell Quansah completes his move to Bayer Leverkusen.

This leaves the Reds a little short at the back and means Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will be expected to play a lot of games next season, although the Frenchman might not even be there either.

Konate has rejected Liverpool’s contract offer and there are worries he will leave for free next season, with Real Madrid interested, meaning it might prove beneficial just to sell him this summer for many reasons.



Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold for free this summer was a huge blow for Liverpool in terms of the void he will leave but also the significant transfer fee they have missed out on.

As one of the biggest clubs in world football, the Reds cannot let something like this happen again and they need to put their foot down in certain situations, proving that they are in control of the matter.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

The Konate dilemma is one of these and if he is asking for too much money or simply has no interest in signing, then Liverpool should put him up for sale to save their reputation and stop Madrid from stealing another one of their players for nothing.

READ MORE: Florian Wirtz now compared to attacker Leicester City released after signing for Liverpool

Granted, they may lose a quality asset, but they would recoup a small fee and eliminate any potential for embarrassment again next summer, just like they faced with ‘Trent’ earlier in the month.

It would also show a statement of intent for future negotiations and players as Liverpool will prove that a deal happens on their terms and individuals cannot just use the club as a stepping stone.

Owners FSG have also shown their intent by backing Arne Slot and by building a team to last, and if a player is not desperate to be a part of that, then maybe the Reds should look for someone who wants to be instead.

Liverpool are not stupid and a contingency plan is already in place, with Marc Guehi a viable option this summer regardless of Konate leaving or not.

Guehi wants to be guaranteed regular minutes, however, giving the Reds another reason to sell the Frenchman, with the Englishman the perfect replacement for many reasons.

The Crystal Palace captain only has one year left on his contract so he would be cheaper than most options on the current market as it is, and he is also better than most of them anyway.

The 24-year-old’s injury record is near-perfect as he has only missed 14 games in the four years he has been in south London, the same cannot be said for Konate.

It feels like a simple choice for Liverpool.

Offer Konate what they feel is right and if he still seems hesitant, sell him and move for Guehi before it is too late.