Arne Slot Keen on Liverpool Move for “Aggressive” £85m Gem, He’s a Dream Ibrahima Konate Replacement
Liverpool will commence their Premier League season with a match against Ipswich Town at Portman Road next week.
This will mark a significant change for the club, as Arne Slot makes his competitive debut as Liverpool’s manager, having succeeded Jurgen Klopp at the conclusion of the previous season. Slot, who was previously with Feyenoord, has yet to see any new signings this summer despite the transfer window being open for nearly two months.
Nonetheless, Liverpool are reportedly optimistic about finalizing a transfer for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who has a £51m release clause. If completed, this transfer would strengthen the team’s midfield, particularly the number six position.
There are also concerns about central defender Ibrahima Konate’s future with Liverpool, following his brief period under the new manager. Reports suggest that Slot has reservations about Konate’s fitness and performance levels, which might lead to a potential departure before the transfer window closes. However, there is no indication yet of any concrete interest in Konate.
In addition, Slot is reportedly interested in Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva to enhance his defensive lineup. The Portuguese defender has an £85m release clause, and it remains to be seen if Liverpool can negotiate a lower fee. Earlier in the window, the club had also shown interest in Willian Pacho, who is set to join PSG, and Leny Yoro, who moved to Manchester United.
Should Liverpool decide to sell Konate, they would need to act swiftly to secure Silva as a potential replacement.
Ibrahima Konate’s Form Last Season
During the 2023/24 season, the ex-RB Leipzig central defender only made 17 Premier League starts due to ongoing fitness issues. He missed five matches because of injuries or suspensions and remained on the bench for 11 games, indicating that Klopp may have been dissatisfied with either his performance or fitness.
In the 17 Premier League matches he did play, Konate displayed his physical strengths with strong defensive play but also showed occasional lapses.
| 23/24 Premier League | Ibrahima Konate |
|---|---|
| Starts | 17 |
| Dribbled past | 7x |
| Error led to goal | 1 |
| Red cards | 1 |
| Ground duel success rate | 60% |
| Aerial duel success rate | 71% |
| Stats Source Sofascore | |
As shown in the table above, he won most of his battles both on the ground and in the air. However, he also had some setbacks, including a red card and a critical mistake that led to a goal.
These lapses in judgment and concentration may be why Slot remains unconvinced about his performances, casting doubt on his future with the team.
Additionally, there are concerns about his fitness. Since the start of the 2019/20 season, Konate has missed 85 games due to injuries while playing for RB Leipzig, Liverpool, and France.
This history of frequent injuries makes it challenging for Slot to depend on him for the 2024/25 season, given his tendency to be sidelined for extended periods.
Therefore, Liverpool should consider signing Silva from Benfica before the summer transfer window closes as an ideal replacement.
Firstly, the 20-year-old has yet to sustain any significant injuries throughout his professional career, having missed no matches due to injury, as noted by Transfermarkt.
Despite his age, Silva has already made 94 appearances for Benfica across all competitions, having established himself as a regular player during the 2022/23 season.
This indicates that the Portugal international is a reliable and resilient performer who can be counted on consistently without concerns about his fitness or availability, unlike Konate.
Therefore, Slot could include him in the squad with confidence, knowing that Silva would be a dependable starter alongside Virgil van Dijk, in competition with Jarell Quansah, due to his impressive injury record.
At 20 years old, Silva would also come to Anfield as a player with significant potential, with many years ahead to develop and enhance his skills under the Reds’ management, making him a valuable signing both now and for the future.
| 23/24 season | Antonio Silva (Liga Portugal) | Ibrahima Konate (Premier League) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 30 | 22 |
| Pass accuracy | 93% | 88% |
| Tackles + interceptions per game | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Duel success rate | 67% | 66% |
| Ground duel success rate | 72% | 60% |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | ||
Based on the table above, the Benfica defender could potentially be an improvement over Konate if his current form carries over to the Premier League. Last season, he outperformed Konate in both duel success rate and passing accuracy.
Moreover, Silva managed to avoid any red cards or errors leading to goals throughout the season, indicating greater defensive reliability compared to Konate.
Valued at £85m and noted for his “aggressive” style by analyst Ben Mattinson, Silva seems like an ideal candidate to replace Konate, given his availability, skills, and room for growth.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Overtake Arsenal in Premier League Rankings Following Anfield Developments Ahead of New Season
