'So slow!' - Ex-Arsenal striker SLAMS Konate and suggests affordable centre back replacement | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konate has been in and out of the Liverpool team due to a persistent thigh injury and has made only 16 starts in the Premier League all season long.

The 24-year-old’s injury problems, allied with Joel Matip’s long-term knee damage, mean Jurgen Klopp has had to use homegrown prospect Jarell Quansah in the centre back position with Joe Gomez also stepping across on occasion.

The Reds are tipped to go into the transfer market for a central defender this summer with Murillo, Goncalo Inacio, Willian Pacho and Ousmane Diomande among the players linked with an Anfield arrival.

'So slow!' - Ex-Arsenal striker SLAMS Konate and suggests affordable centre back replacement 5 mins ago by Peter Staunton

'Not what I wanted to say' - Klopp clears up comments on Liverpool's 'best player' 40 mins ago by Peter Staunton

'I want to lead a team' - Ex-Red Nuri Sahin seeking to follow in Klopp's footsteps 1 hour ago by Tom Weber

There have been long-standing concerns over Konate’s fitness issues since he arrived from RB Leipzig back in 2021, making only 44 Premier League starts in that time frame.

He was recently back in the team for the league defeat to Crystal Palace, enduring a torrid afternoon as Eberechi Eze’s goal gave the Eagles an unlikely victory and put a significant dent in Liverpool’s title hopes.

“Poor coordination at the back to give Eze so much space for the opener. Continued to look shaky at the back, losing his man far too often and giving away possession in dangerous areas,” was the Anfield Watch assessment of the 2022 World Cup finalist’s performance.

Bendtner praises Joachim Andersen

Meanwhile, in the Palace lineup, Joachim Andersen was again impeccable for Oliver Glasner’s side.

The 27-year-old has been one of the most underrated defenders in the division since initially joining Fulham on a loan deal from Lyon back in 2020.

A year later he completed a €17.5 million permanent move from the Ligue 1 side to Palace, where he has embarked on a solid defensive partnership with another reported Liverpool centre back target Marc Guehi.

🔗 Instagram

And now, Andersen’s compatriot, Nicklas Bendtner, has put the former Sampdoria man forward as a candidate the Reds should be looking at in the transfer market.

The 30-cap Denmark international is a robust presence in the Palace backline, not missing a single league match all season long, as well as pitching in with two goals and three assists.

Bendtner: Konate is 'so slow'

Moreover the former Arsenal striker took aim at Konate, describing him as ‘so slow’, suggesting that he didn’t know what to do with the ball.

“Now, I would like to make [a proposal] where we put him in Liverpool’s team instead of Konate,” he told the Stolpe Ind podcast.

“[Konate] is so slow on the ball and has no idea where to play it. There, you can argue for what he is doing there versus the fact that Joachim could play there.”

Andersen is under contract at Selhurst Park until 2026 and was recently linked with a transfer to Newcastle.

'I want to lead a team' - Ex-Red Nuri Sahin seeking to follow in Klopp's footsteps 1 hour ago by Tom Weber

Liverpool All Time Top Goalscorers (Updated April 2024) 19 hours ago by Jake Skudder

Everton vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups: Potential XI for both teams 19 hours ago by Jake Skudder