Key Takeaways:
- Liverpool are weighing up whether to join Arsenal in pursuing Ezri Konsa following a defensive reinforcements plea from Andoni Iraola
- Liverpool’s centre-back options have been depleted by injuries, with Joe Gomez set to miss the Premier League opener against Newcastle on August 23
- Arsenal also monitor Konsa after William Saliba’s back injury, but Aston Villa’s £60m valuation may exceed their budget
Liverpool’s Defensive Challenges Intensify During Pre-Season
Liverpool are reportedly assessing the possibility of entering the race for Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, in direct competition with Arsenal, after new manager Andoni Iraola urgently requested additional defensive options. The squad’s backline resources have been significantly diminished in recent weeks, as Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni have each suffered fitness setbacks during pre-season preparations.
Currently, Virgil van Dijk stands as the sole senior centre-back, though he has been afforded an extended rest following his involvement with the Netherlands at the World Cup. Now aged 35, van Dijk may have anticipated forming a new partnership this season after Ibrahima Konate joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. However, the only addition thus far has been Jeremy Jacquet.
🚨🏴 𝗡𝗘𝗪 – @ed_aarons: Arsenal could face competition from Liverpool for Ezri Konsa. pic.twitter.com/t0vOsHvdfx
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) August 5, 2026
Youth Pressed Into Service as Konsa Emerges as Key Target
Due to the dearth of experienced options, Iraola has turned to the youth ranks, deploying Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, and Luke Chambers, 22, during Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Leeds. Mor Talla Ndiaye, also 18, has featured during the pre-season campaign as well.
The departure of Konate emphasises Liverpool’s urgent requirement for a proven performer to partner van Dijk. According to The Guardian, Konsa is now among the prominent names under serious consideration.
The England international has also attracted Arsenal’s attention in the wake of William Saliba’s World Cup back injury. However, Aston Villa’s £60m price tag is understood to be beyond Arsenal’s current spending capacity.
Konsa’s Profile and Contract Situation
Konsa, who joined Villa in 2019, has two years remaining on his contract and has accumulated 286 appearances in all competitions for the Midlands outfit. The 28-year-old possesses extensive Premier League experience, making him an appealing o
Transfer Activity and Ongoing Challenges
So far, Jacquet—who signed from Rennes in January—and Victor Munoz represent Liverpool’s only two major summer acquisitions. The defensive shortage was further highlighted when Iraola’s assistant, Tommy Elphick, had to fill in at centre-half during a recent training session.
Iraola recently conceded: “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.”
With Gomez ruled out of the Premier League curtain-raiser against Newcastle on August 23, van Dijk is Liverpool’s sole available senior centre-back. The Dutch captain missed the pre-season tour in the United States, restricting Iraola’s opportunity to integrate him ahead of the new season.
“When the market is open, you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad,” Iraola added last month. “There are obvious situations where we need to sign players.”
Structural Changes Off the Pitch
Liverpool’s summer extends beyond the playing roster, with Iraola replacing Arne Slot after a disappointing campaign that saw the departures of Konate, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. The situation has grown more complex following the resignation of Fenway Sports Group chief Michael Edwards, increasing the burden on new sporting director Richard Hughes to complete necessary transfer dealings.
