Liverpool ‘seriously evaluating’ €60m centre-back deal as Ibrahima Konate struggles go on

Liverpool are standing at the edge of another big defensive crisis, and this one feels even heavier than what they faced in previous years. The centre-back department at Anfield is going through changes that nobody expected so soon. Arne Slot came into Liverpool with the belief that he could build a squad that mixes experience with youth, but the reality of football has already shaken those plans. The upheaval started last summer when Liverpool made the tough decision to sell Jarell Quansah. The young English defender had grown into the team and was beginning to look like a long-term option. Yet, when Bayer Leverkusen came with a £30 million offer, Liverpool accepted. The money was reinvested immediately into the signing of Giovanni Leoni from Parma. The Italian teenager was seen as the future, a bold investment for £26 million. But fate can be cruel, and in his debut match, Leoni suffered a torn ACL. His season ended before it even began.

That single injury changed everything. Suddenly, Slot was left with only three senior centre-backs for a long and demanding season. And each of those defenders comes with his own questions, short-term and long-term. Virgil van Dijk, the captain, is now 34 years old. His contract runs until 2027, but everyone knows he is in the final chapters of his Liverpool career. He remains a leader and still commands respect, but his body cannot do the impossible forever. Then there is Ibrahima Konate. Once seen as Van Dijk’s perfect partner, the Frenchman has not been able to stay consistent. His contract runs out next summer, and as it stands, he has not agreed to extend. That means Liverpool are facing the real possibility of losing him for free, with Real Madrid already circling like sharks. Joe Gomez, the third senior option, is also not secure. At 28, he has been loyal, but Liverpool are open to selling him if the right offer comes. AC Milan are watching closely, and there’s every chance he could be gone by January.

This is the backdrop of Liverpool’s defensive troubles. A squad fighting to defend their Premier League crown, aiming for Champions League glory, but stuck with uncertainty at the very core of the team: the backline. It is no surprise, then, that transfer rumours around central defenders have exploded. Liverpool have been linked with a list of names, from England’s Marc Guehi to Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo. But the one name gaining serious weight right now is Gleison Bremer of Juventus.

Bremer is 28 years old, a Brazilian defender who made his name at Torino before crossing the city to Juventus in 2022. He has built a reputation as a physically strong and intelligent defender. Juventus value him at around €60 million. That price tag scared Real Madrid away, according to reports, but in England, it is not seen as impossible. Liverpool, along with Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea, are said to be seriously considering whether to make a move.

For Liverpool, the interest is logical. They need a defender with experience, someone who can step in immediately, not a teenager who needs years of development. Bremer fits that description. He is under contract until 2029, which means Juventus are not desperate to sell, but €60 million would be hard for them to ignore. The problem, however, is his injury record. Last season, Bremer suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for almost the entire campaign. For a club like Liverpool, who already know the pain of seeing defenders sidelined, that is a risk. They have seen it with Joel Matip, they have seen it with Joe Gomez, and now Giovanni Leoni too. Paying big money for a defender with a recent ACL injury could backfire. But when desperation calls, risks are taken.

The situation becomes more complicated when we think about Konate. The Frenchman’s struggles this season have been clear. Mistakes, lapses in concentration, and an unsettled contract situation have all combined to create doubt. If he leaves for free, Liverpool lose both quality and money. If they sell him now, they risk weakening their defence even more. The timing could not be worse. That is why Bremer’s name has become important. Slot and Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes are not just thinking about the present; they are planning the next three to five years. If Van Dijk leaves in 2027 and Konate leaves now, who leads the defence? Who becomes the pillar of the next great Liverpool team?

Marc Guehi remains an option, but competition is fierce. Clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United also want him. Guehi’s price tag could climb beyond £65 million, and Liverpool are not known for getting into bidding wars. That is why Bremer might be the realistic choice. At 28, he is entering his peak years. His leadership at Juventus has been praised, and if he can stay fit, he could become the kind of rock Liverpool need.

Fans are divided. Some believe Bremer is the right signing, someone with experience who can slot in immediately. Others worry about the injury history and believe Liverpool should look for younger, more reliable targets. The fear of repeating past mistakes is strong. Spending big money on a player who cannot stay fit has hurt Liverpool before.

But Slot does not have the luxury of waiting. The defence must be fixed quickly. With only Van Dijk, Konate, and Gomez available, one more injury could collapse the whole system. Slot’s style of football relies heavily on pressing high and controlling space. Without solid defenders who can win duels, intercept passes, and recover quickly, his system falls apart. That is what we have seen in the recent defeats. Liverpool are fighting hard, but the balance is missing.

Behind the scenes, Richard Hughes has been working. Reports say Liverpool have been monitoring Bremer for months. Scouts have been sent to Juventus games, data has been analysed, and conversations have likely already taken place with the player’s representatives. For Liverpool, this is not just a reaction to Konate’s struggles; it is part of a long-term plan. Whether they move in January or wait until the summer will depend on how the season develops.

Meanwhile, Juventus are aware of the interest. They know Premier League clubs have the financial power to pay €60 million. For them, selling Bremer could free up money to rebuild in other areas. The Italian club are not at their strongest financially, and every big offer is tempting. That is why this story is alive and moving.

For Liverpool fans, the thought of another defensive rebuild brings back memories of 2020-21, when injuries destroyed the season. That year, Van Dijk, Gomez, and Matip were all out long-term, and Liverpool had to finish the season with makeshift defenders. The club promised not to let that happen again. But here we are, in 2025, and the defence is again fragile. Supporters are demanding action. They know that if Liverpool want to fight Manchester City and Arsenal, they cannot gamble with only three fit defenders.

Bremer might not be the perfect solution, but he represents stability. He represents a statement that Liverpool will not wait for the crisis to explode before acting. The truth is simple: if Konate continues to struggle, Liverpool cannot rely on him. If Gomez leaves, the depth becomes even thinner. And if Van Dijk ages out, the future is empty. That is why Gleison Bremer could be the next big piece of Liverpool’s puzzle.

The decision will not be easy. It involves €60 million, medical risks, and competition from other Premier League giants. But one thing is clear: Liverpool are seriously evaluating the deal. The next few months will decide whether they move forward or look elsewhere.

This is the new Liverpool reality under Arne Slot. The Dutchman is not afraid to make bold moves, but he also knows the weight of Anfield’s expectations. Every signing, every transfer, every gamble will be judged. And as history shows, at Liverpool, the defence is more than just a position. It is the foundation of everything.

If Bremer arrives, he will carry the hopes of a team desperate to rebuild its backline. If he does not, then another name will take his place. But one thing is sure: the story of Liverpool’s defence is not finished. It is only beginning, and the next chapter could be written with €60 million and a Brazilian centre-back who has everything to prove