Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore has put forward a provocative transfer solution for his old clubs, suggesting a high-stakes swap deal before the January window closes. The proposed move would see Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate head to Villa Park in exchange for England international Ezri Konsa moving to Anfield.
The Rationale Behind the Proposed Swap
Collymore's suggestion stems from Ibrahima Konate's inconsistent form this season and his contract situation. The 26-year-old French defender is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and has been linked with European giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG. However, Collymore argues that such elite moves may not materialise if his performances do not improve.
In contrast, Ezri Konsa, 28, is under contract with Aston Villa until 2028 and is currently in excellent form, with Collymore tipping him to start for England at the next World Cup. "If I was head of recruitment at Liverpool, I think Konsa and [Marc] Guehi would both be deals that provide good value for money," Collymore told BetWright.
Addressing Liverpool's Defensive Concerns
The proposal aims to solve multiple issues for Liverpool manager Arne Slot. Firstly, it would prevent the club from losing Konate for free in the summer. Secondly, it would secure a ready-made, Premier League-proven replacement who is two years older and arguably more consistent.
Collymore also highlighted the looming departure of Virgil van Dijk, suggesting the need for defensive reinforcement is urgent. "Liverpool must identify a replacement for Ibrahima Konate if he leaves, especially because I don't think Virgil van Dijk will be far behind him," he stated.
An added benefit for Liverpool is Konsa's versatility. With Conor Bradley suffering a season-ending injury, Konsa's ability to play competently at right-back would provide valuable cover in a problem area for Slot's side.
Villa's Perspective and Potential Hurdles
For Aston Villa, the deal's appeal lies in their need to address Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) concerns. A significant fee or a valuable asset like Konate could help balance the books. "Aston Villa have PSR issues that they need to address, so if they were to get a big fee for Konsa, they might have to consider it," Collymore noted.
However, significant obstacles remain. Konate himself may be reluctant to join Villa, having been linked with Europe's top clubs, and would be able to command a higher wage as a free agent in the summer. Furthermore, with Villa currently third in the Premier League, eight points ahead of Liverpool, trading a key player to a direct rival in January seems counter-intuitive.
Collymore conceded the player's motivation is key: "A lot depends on Konate – if he plays like he was last season, then he should be able to attract an elite Champions League club. However, if his form continues to be scratchy, there's no guarantee."
With the January transfer window closing in just over a fortnight, this ambitious swap deal would require rapid negotiation. While it presents a logical solution on paper for both clubs' immediate issues, convincing the players involved and completing such a major move between rivals in mid-season remains a formidable challenge.
