Liverpool pushing hard for defender amid contract stand-off | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Centre-Back Puzzle: Huijsen Pursuit Raises Questions Over Konate Future

Huijsen Deal Advances with Full-Scale Push from Liverpool

In the most recent episode of The Transfer Show Podcast on Anfield Index, hosts Trev Downey and Dave Davis examined the intensifying links between Liverpool and Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. The discussion confirmed one clear theme: the Reds have gone all-in on the 19-year-old defender.

“Liverpool have proper gone in for Huijsen,” Davis revealed. “Like seriously, made their pitch, gone all in. Virgil van Dijk’s on the phone call with him, the lot.” For all the ongoing speculation around Liverpool’s summer budget, one thing is now undeniable — the club sees massive potential in Huijsen. “They think the ceiling with this kid is massive,” Davis added.

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The interest isn’t just lip service. According to Davis, “Liverpool absolutely like Huijsen, maybe more than people think.” This aligns with recent mentions from David Ornstein and Paul Joyce, who noted Huijsen’s rising stock and a release clause that makes a deal achievable.

Konate Contract Questions Cast Doubt on Stability

The pivot in Liverpool’s centre-back strategy stems from unresolved uncertainty around Ibrahima Konate. As Davis explained, the Konate situation is “quite clear… he’s either got to renew or be sold.” With just over a year left on his deal, Liverpool must make a call.

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It’s the financial demands that are complicating things. “Ibu wants a big, big wage bump,” Davis stated. “From 80 to 200 grand a week… that’s not a bump, that’s 150%.” For a club already navigating wage increases for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the scale of Konate’s request poses a structural dilemma. “Where does that line bend, and where does it break?” Davis asked.

Downey echoed the concern. “Unless I’m miscalculating, what he’s reportedly asking for is not a bump… it’s a massive jump, and a massive change to the structure.”

The club’s position is firm. “Liverpool will not let Ibu go on a free,” Davis stressed. “They want to do this deal, they want him to stay.” But the risk is growing, with clubs like PSG and Real Madrid monitoring the situation.

Profile Differences Add Complexity to Decisions

The Huijsen-Konate conversation isn’t a simple succession plan. As Davis noted, “They’re different centre-halves, aren’t they?” He described Konate as “a behemoth, brilliant in the air, absolute powerhouse, quick.” By contrast, Huijsen’s qualities are more technical: “a better ball player… you see his progressive stats.”

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The comparison even expands to potential backups. “We’ve mentioned it before — we’re hearing Marc Guéhi is the other one they’re really looking at,” Davis confirmed. “But Huijsen is the one they’ve gone big on.”

And that poses a potential problem. “This is almost a strange thing to say because it’s the transfer show,” Davis remarked, “but I don’t want Huijsen and Guéhi to be coming in — because that would mean they’ve not been able to do a deal with Konate and they’re shipping him out.”

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Slot’s Preferences Could Redefine Defence

Much of this remains filtered through the lens of Arne Slot’s preferences. “We don’t know what an Arne Slot centre-half is yet,” Davis admitted. “He’s inherited these.” That ambiguity allows for flexibility in profile, but also creates a sense of instability as fans and pundits alike search for patterns in Liverpool’s transfer activity.

Downey closed the conversation with a wry summary of Liverpool’s uncertain centre-back structure: “All we’ve got is that Liverpool will not let Ibu go on a free.” That’s a principle. Everything else — contract terms, replacements, tactical fits — is still very much in play.