Liverpool consider swapping Konate for €82m striker

Robin Bairner

• 5 Dec 2022 12:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool are ready to trade centre-back Ibrahima Konate for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, according to a report from Calciomercatoweb.

Konate has enjoyed a strong World Cup with France, but domestically with Liverpool he has experienced a frustrating campaign. Indeed, he has featured in only four matches for the Reds this season, partly because of a knee injury that saw him laid up until October.

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Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez have typically featured in the middle of Jurgen Klopp’s defence, though it has been a disappointing campaign thus far for Liverpool, who are sixth in the Premier League standings.

The Italian source states that the Reds will try to buck themselves up by signing Vlahovic from Juventus, a player whose performances have been questioned in Turin, despite a strong return of goals. The Serbia international, who signed for Juve for €82 million last winter in the biggest January transfer deal ever in Serie A, has found the net six times in 10 Serie A matches this season.

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Will Liverpool sign Vlahovic?

There is little about this report that makes sense, though.

Firstly, Liverpool appear willing to persist with Darwin Nunez, who has split opinion since making a €100 million move from Benfica in the summer. Although Real Madrid have been linked with the Uruguay international, there is no indication that the Anfield club will give up on the 23-year-old at this juncture, particularly after scoring five goals in 10 Premier League outings.

On top of this, the Reds lack cover in defence, so it would be surprising if they were to use Konate as leverage for a position they are not in any desperate need to strengthen.

And then there is the question of who is making these calls. With FSG seeking to sell and sporting director Julian Ward on his way out, making such a profound transfer halfway through the season would be surprising.

Furthermore, Juventus’ position is equally delicate. The board of the Italian side has resigned following a financial scandal, and while that means there is the possibility they are forced to sell players, an international class player like Konate is not about to walk into the club just as it might explode.

This Vlahovic to Liverpool transfer rumour is surely nothing more than fantasy football.