Richard Hughes' next transfer priority CLEARER than ever | OneFootball

Liverpool have conducted plenty of summer business so far in this window and the indications are that there are more signings to come.

Alexander Isak remains in the sights of sporting director Richard Hughes - with the Reds intending to beef up their strikeline before the window closes.

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But the summer transfer campaign has left Liverpool looking a little unbalanced. The workload will be tough on the likes of Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike if a new forward isn’t signed.

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However there are arguably bigger issues to solve at the other end of the pitch. Having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool are perhaps a player light in the centre-back area.

Konate's form has nose-dived

There are senior options in the shape of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez - while Giovanni Leoni is an intriguing option.

On numbers alone it would be no surprise to see the Reds move for another central defensive option.

But there is another problem and it’s the form of Ibrahima Konate.

Let’s get the glaring contract issue out of the way first. Konate, 26, is out of contract in less than 12 months and Real Madrid are the side most likely to sign him.

If Liverpool don’t agree a new deal with the Frenchman then he will be walking out the door for nothing in 2026. So that’s why it would be sensible to take out insurance in the form of Marc Guehi.

Can Liverpool beat City to Guehi?

With Manchester City now coming forward for the England international however Liverpool are going to have to move quickly in order to avoid missing out.

There is an argument to be made however that Konate needs to be upgraded - and not only replaced if he leaves for Madrid.

The former RB Leipzig defender has had a shocking start to the season.

Liverpool build the foundations of their 2024/25 Premier League title win on the back of a solid defence but that has crumbled so far this term.

Van Dijk is holding the backline together on his own at present - with Konate’s performances veering between the bewildering and the inconsistent.

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What does the future hold for Konate?

Against Newcastle on Monday he was lucky not to be sent off - while he was directly at fault for the Geordies’ late equaliser. Luckily, Rio Ngumoha was on hand to bail out Arne Slot’s side in the end.

But Konate needs to shape up or else ship out. Some fans are already suspecting that his head is in Madrid - like Trent Alexander-Arnold before him - and Liverpool can ill-afford an inattentive campaign.

Konate needs to have a word with himself and tidy up his performances soon.

Otherwise it would be wise for Hughes to consider some offers for him during the closing stages of the window - and get busy replacing him with Guehi.