Liverpool must address URGENT concern or risk title defence | OneFootball

Liverpool are looking in good shape ahead of the new season, but signings still need to be made.

We aren't talking about anything extraordinary, but a centre-back and a striker are required before the fans can begin to consider retaining the Premier League title the team won just two months ago.

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Darwin Nunez might leave, which is a concern since Diogo Jota is sadly no longer with us, and that would leave the forward options in a precarious position. We might see Jayden Danns promoted to the first team, but Arne Slot's plans are still being arranged`since pre-season has only just begun.

Even if the Uruguayan remains on Merseyside, you feel as though recruits are necessary, but as we have all seen throughout this summer, the options available feel expensive for the level they're at.

But elsewhere, Liverpool have an even bigger concern that doesn't seem to be generating quite the same amount of attention and that is indeed the centre-back position. It's worrying me greatly.

Liverpool need defenders this summer

The Reds essentially played with three centre-backs last season - Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarrel Quansah - while Joe Gomez was sidelines for the most part with lingering injury concerns.

From the start of that campaign, it was clear that Slot didn't rate Quansah and so his move to Leverkusen feels as though it's beneficial for all parties. But we've now in a frightful position.

Someone has to come in to replace the England U21 Euros winner, and ideally they should be homegrown, so that the quota is met - which is an underrated thing that clubs have to abide by.

The candidate for that position is Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace, who is a few years older, but he is indeed homegrown, he has great leadership qualities as the Eagles' captain and his ability is extremely impressive, making him an essential part of England's international team moving forward.

But the London club seem to want around £40m-50m and when he's only got one year left on his deal, that is a bitter pill for Liverpool's recruitment team to swallow. We might wait until next year.

So the replacement for Quansah is currently on hold, which is major concern number one.

The second is that Konate is set to be out of contract next summer, he is currently unwilling to sign a new deal and Real Madrid are looking at potentially signing him, either for a fee or eventually for free.

Allowing him to leave for nothing, just like what happened with Trent Alexander-Arnold, doesn't sit right, but the alternative is to sell him this summer if he is destined to play elsewhere in the future.

Of the two reliable centre-backs we have, one is Van Dijk who is getting older and might only be around for the next two years, and the other is Konate who is still contemplating things. The obvious way to proceed is to buy two new centre-backs so that the stocks are secure regardless. But if we're honest, Liverpool are staring down the barrel of potentially not even signing one.

All signs suggest that Quansah will be replaced by someone, but as well all know, the problems will not end there unless Konate agrees to a new contract - a five-deal has reportedly been rejected.

This piece isn't necessarily to suggest any different solutions to the problem. If it were me, I'd have signed Guehi by now and Liverpool would at least have one concern wrapped up and dealt with.

But as we know, Liverpool have far more considerations to factor in and so that deal hasn't been agreed yet. Will someone be brought in? I'd expect so, but who that might be is a whole other story.

Nonetheless, it cannot be understated how crucial that piece of business is. Liverpool will be hoping to retain their Premier League title. Without a legitimate third centre-back, that won't happen.