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Despite growing speculation that Ibrahima Konate could travel to Liverpool this summer, an old rumor of transfer favorite Kalidou Koulibaly refuses to leave.
RB Leipzig defender Konate admitted that ‘my phone was ringing everywhere’ when he woke up to stories linking him to a move to Anfield.
One article claimed Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign the 21-year-old, but his current club’s sporting director Markus Krosche has insisted Konate will not be sold to the Reds.
What ECHO understands is that Liverpool are applying the rule on five potential center-back signings with Konate reportedly on that list.
The identity of the other targets remains unknown but despite the barrage of headlines from Italy, Koulibaly does not appear to do the trick.
While the Senegalese mountain man possesses the physical prowess that Kop appreciates, in reality it appears that any potential ship to the Mersey now appears to have sailed.
Unless Carlo Ancelotti of Everton, recently touted as being on the hunt for a center-back this summer and a manager ready to bring in rookies for the here and now at Goodison Park, as he has shown with the purchases of James Rodriguez and Allan (again from Naples), decides to make his move but that’s another matter.
While Liverpool have been repeatedly linked with Koulibaly for several years now, the exorbitant price demanded by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis – reportedly £ 100million in his heyday – has always made moves to the Reds prohibitively expensive and in fact other potential suitors.
Outspoken Signore De Laurentiis has always been a difficult character to deal with and his temperamental approach saw him threaten to put his club’s entire first team up for sale ahead of last season’s Champions League group game in Anfield after refusing his order to remain in their training retirement until the following weekend’s game after a draw with Red Bull Salzburg.
However, a combination of factors appear to have prompted the film producer-turned-football boss to soften his stance.
During most of the second half of the 20e century, Serie A clubs were the richest in the world and able to attract the cream of global talent, but without the same kind of lucrative TV deals enjoyed by their Premier League counterparts, Italian teams like Napoli have been particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Koulibaly remains one of their most valuable assets but a more pressing need to sell, the sands of time – he will be 30 in June – and his contract, he will begin the last two years when next season begins, have all come to fruition. to see the player’s market value drop.
It is now widely claimed that the former Metz and Genk player could be up for grabs for as little as £ 40million, a figure less than half of the 2018 upper limit and a much more affordable fee for a more wide range of teams.
But even at this “bargain” price, Liverpool may not be tempted.
Koulibaly is around three months older than Virgil van Dijk, who moved to Liverpool in January 2018.
It was with a solid formation in the British game at Celtic and Southampton behind him.
Will Jurgen Klopp really make his Dutch colossus the junior partner alongside a player close to veteran status who would nevertheless be a rookie in the division?
After all, this season’s injury crisis at the heart of the Reds’ defense that saw Van Dijk join on the sidelines of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and even auxiliary substitutes like Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson has shown the defending champions Premier League players could do with some new blood and youthful vigor in the position.
While their crown’s defense has weakened significantly since the start of the calendar year with many of their stars on the treatment table, by contrast, rivals Manchester City have gone stronger and stronger since they spent £ 61million on Benfica’s Ruben Dias last summer.
The durable Portugal international has made 38 of Pep Guardiola’s 46 appearances so far this season, including 27 of 30 in the league, and has started all but one by scoring 16 clean sheets during that time.
While Aymeric Laporte’s injury last quarter left City’s rearguard at sea for long stretches, he now finds himself in contention with John Stones for a place alongside Dias.
The signing of Ozan Kabak, just 21, on loan last week, and ties to Konate, who was not 22 until May 25, suggest Liverpool are targeting center-backs who still have their best years ahead of them.
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