Liverpool are one of several clubs to have contacted Mino Raiola over Stefan De Vrij but the Dutchman is set to renew his contract with Inter Milan in the coming weeks.
A report from FC Inter News claims that Liverpool and Barcelona contacted de Vrij to enquire about the Dutchman’s availability but with contract talks at an advanced stage, both clubs were turned away.
De Vrij is a fantastic defender but he will not join the club this summer even if he might have been able to form a solid partnership with compatriot Virgil van Dijk but Liverpool are also close to making a signing in his position.
Liverpool are in the market for a new centre back and are hot on the heels of RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate, who has been given the green light to join the Reds after new manager Jesse Marsch failed to convince him to stay at the club.
MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 12: Jesse Marsch head coach of the New York Red Bulls looks on during the MLS game against the Montreal Impact at the Olympic Stadium on March 12, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Impact defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Centre-back is a position that is a high priority for Liverpool this summer after the damage that was caused by having van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all miss huge portions of the season with respective injuries.
Van Dijk has been absent due to an ACL rupture which was caused by one of the worst tackles ever made in a Merseyside Derby when Jordan Pickford flew over the ball, colliding with the Liverpool star’s knee which caused it to bend unnaturally.
The challenge placed undue stress on the anterior cruciate ligament before it tore.
Joe Gomez, meanwhile, suffered a patella injury less than a month later and was put under the knife to correct the damage and has been missing ever since.
Taking it one step at a time 💪@VirgilvDijk x @J_Gomez97
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 4, 2021
Joel Matip has once again had a season blighted by injury, suffering five separate injuries.
The main concern regarding the Cameroonian is the fact that all five issues occurred in different parts of his body.
One to his thigh, one to his right knee, a back injury, a groin strain and finally, and most severely, he suffered an ankle injury which has sidelined him for 152 days and 22 games.
Liverpool have had nightmarish luck with injuries and it’s fair to say it’s dictated the way their season has gone and the hope is that a combination of their three best defenders returning to fitness combined with the signing of Konate will see the Reds surge back to the top of European football.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 11: Ibrahima Konate of RB Leipzig and Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Bayern Muenchen at Red Bull Arena on May 11, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
Konate is expected by the RB Leipzig coaching staff to become the best defender in the world at some point during his career which is an indication of just how talented the Frenchman is.
At 21, he has the entirety of his senior career ahead of him and he’ll be looking to mirror the impact that van Dijk made at Anfield when he arrived from Southampton in a deal worth £75million.
Konate will cost the club around €40million which means he’ll arrive with less pressure on his young shoulders.
