While Liverpool fans experienced significant relief when captain Virgil van Dijk signed a new two-year deal earlier this year, the club currently finds itself lacking depth in the center-back position. Ibrahima Konate has yet to extend his contract, which is set to expire in 2026, amidst speculation linking him to Real Madrid. In mid-August, the Merseyside club invested approximately £30 million ($41 million) in teenage talent Leoni from Parma, earmarking him as a potential future star. This season was expected to be focused on acclimating the youngster, providing him with sporadic game time while he developed under the guidance of Van Dijk and Konate. However, just over a month following his arrival at Anfield, the Italy Under-19 international suffered a serious injury during a Carabao Cup match against Southampton, leaving Liverpool somewhat vulnerable defensively. Shortly after the injury in late September, Slot addressed the media, stating, “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL, meaning he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side. There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side, and that is that he is still so young, so he has many years ahead after recovering from such a devastating injury.” The team’s failure to acquire Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi appears increasingly consequential. In October, Liverpool was linked with 25-year-old Dortmund standout Nico Schlotterbeck, considered a potential replacement for Konate should he decide to leave the club. The German international, who has earned 22 caps, has caught the attention of clubs in both the Premier League and La Liga with his impressive Bundesliga performances. However, indications suggest that the Reds may not actively pursue the 6ft 3in defender, who has shown reluctance to sign a new contract with Dortmund. On the matter, Schlotterbeck stated in October, “BVB will be my first point of contact, and then we’ll have to see how the next few months go. It makes a difference whether you’re in 11th place in March or playing in the Champions League again. All I can say is: I feel good.” According to reports by DaveOCKOP, Liverpool is monitoring Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande. Crystal Palace had been in pursuit of the 21-year-old for much of the summer as a potential Guehi replacement; however, with the England international remaining at Palace, their interest was temporarily sidelined. The Eagles had reportedly entered into ‘advanced’ negotiations with Sporting for a deal valued between £40-50 million ($53-66 million) for the Ivory Coast international, but Liverpool’s interest does not appear as aggressive. DaveOCKOP notes that Schlotterbeck remains the more ‘ideal’ option for Slot. In the interim, Liverpool hopes that both Van Dijk and Konate can maintain their fitness levels, with Joe Gomez serving as a backup should either player be sidelined. Slot’s team invested heavily this summer in high-profile signings such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. However, it may have been a miscalculation not to bolster their defensive line, particularly as that area has appeared shaky, compounded by an injury to goalkeeper Alisson. The defending Premier League champions currently find themselves seven points behind league leaders Arsenal after just ten matches. Their next challenge is a match against a resurgent Manchester City at the Etihad this Sunday. Should they lose and Arsenal secure a victory, it could severely jeopardize their title defense this season.
