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Liverpool are weighing up a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, potentially blocking Arsenal in the process, as Andoni Iraola pushes to address a critical shortage at centre-back before the Premier League season begins.
Pre-season has exposed just how light Liverpool’s defensive options are. A Joe Gomez injury sustained in a friendly against Sunderland sharpened the urgency, with £55 million signing Jeremy Jacquet still working his way back from a shoulder injury and Giovanni Leoni sidelined with an ACL problem.
With Virgil van Dijk on post-World Cup rest, Iraola turned to youth for the 4-2 defeat to Leeds on Sunday, starting 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe alongside 22-year-old Luke Chambers. Mor Talla Ndiaye, also 18, has featured across pre-season fixtures. The situation is stark enough that Iraola’s assistant Tommy Elphick filled in at centre-back during a training drill.
The departure of Ibrahima Konate has left a clear gap for an experienced partner alongside Van Dijk. According to the Guardian, Konsa has emerged as a genuine target. Arsenal are also tracking the England international after William Saliba suffered a back injury at the World Cup, but Villa’s £60 million asking price is considered beyond what the Gunners can currently commit.
Konsa, 28, has been at Villa since 2019, making 286 appearances across all competitions and carrying two years remaining on his contract. His Premier League experience is exactly the profile Iraola has been seeking since inheriting a squad he described as short on defensive options.
“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.” — Andoni Iraola
Gomez is set to miss the Premier League opener against Newcastle on August 23, leaving Van Dijk as the only fit senior centre-back available. The Dutchman also skipped the United States leg of pre-season, limiting the time Iraola has had to work with him ahead of the campaign.
“When the market is open, you have to be always open to new options to improve the squad. There are obvious situations where we need to sign players.” — Andoni Iraola
Liverpool’s summer has been defined by transition. Iraola replaced Arne Slot following a difficult campaign that also saw Konate, Mohamed Salah, and Andy Robertson all depart. The only significant inbound deals to date are Jacquet, signed in January from Rennes, and Victor Munoz, who arrived for £35 million from Osasuna. The exit of Fenway Sports Group chief Michael Edwards adds further weight on sporting director Richard Hughes to complete the necessary business.
Read also: Trent Alexander-Arnold Urged to Return to Liverpool in Shock Summer Move
The Konsa pursuit signals where Liverpool’s priority lies. A proven, top-flight defender with experience at international level would give Iraola the defensive foundation he needs. Follow TipsGG for the latest on this transfer and Liverpool’s build-up to the new season.