Liverpool are weighing a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, potentially hijacking Arsenal's interest, as head coach Andoni Iraola urgently seeks to bolster his injury-hit central defence.
Defensive crisis deepens
Pre-season has laid bare Liverpool's lack of depth at centre-back. Joe Gomez suffered an injury in a friendly against Sunderland, while £55million signing Jeremy Jacquet is yet to feature in pre-season due to a shoulder problem, and Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
With Virgil van Dijk rested after the World Cup, Iraola has had to rely on youngsters: 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe and 22-year-old Luke Chambers started in the 4-2 loss to Leeds, and 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye has also had minutes.
Konsa on the radar
The departure of Ibrahima Konate has left Liverpool needing an experienced partner for Van Dijk, and the Guardian reports Konsa has emerged as a target. Arsenal are also monitoring the England international following William Saliba's back injury at the World Cup, but Villa's £60m asking price is thought to exceed the Gunners' budget.
Konsa has two years left on his Villa contract, having joined in 2019 and made 286 appearances. The 28-year-old's Premier League experience could make him an ideal fit for Iraola, who has voiced frustration over the squad depth he inherited.
Transfer activity so far
Jacquet, signed from Rennes in January, and Victor Munoz (£35m from Osasuna) are Liverpool's only significant additions. The shortage was highlighted when Iraola's assistant, Tommy Elphick, had to fill in at centre-back during training.
Iraola admitted: "With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now so I think it's a solution that we are trying to find, yes."
Gomez will miss the Premier League opener against Newcastle on August 23, leaving Van Dijk as the only fit senior centre-back. Van Dijk also missed the US pre-season tour, limiting time with Iraola.
"When the market is open, you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad," Iraola said last month. "There are obvious situations where we need to sign players."
Liverpool are undergoing significant change: Iraola replaced Arne Slot after a difficult season that saw Konate, Mohamed Salah, and Andy Robertson depart. Fenway Sports Group chief Michael Edwards has also stepped down, increasing pressure on sporting director Richard Hughes to finalise deals.
