Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol has made a big claim on the impact that Ibrahima Konaté could have on the squad next season.
A report in The Athletic yesterday claimed that Liverpool were in the process of ‘finalising’ a move for the French defender, valued at £31.5m on Transfermarkt, from German side RB Leipzig.
The centre of defence has been a major issue for Liverpool this season, with the squad blighted by injuries to the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. And it’s the latter that Nicol has some concerns over.
Speaking on the latest edition of ESPN FC, he claimed that if the deal were to be completed, there’s likely going to be a battle between him and Konate to partner Van Dijk next season and that it will have to be on Gomez to improve his game.
He said: “Well, like every player, it’s competition. I mean, that’s what the best clubs have, they have competition in the ranks. And if it means Joe Gomez has to take another step up, then it’s going to be better for Liverpool. So yes, clearly it would be between him and Gomez. And good luck, fight it out. That’s what the best teams want.”
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TIF Thoughts on Steve Nicol’s comments on Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konaté…
Nicol’s comments to some extent make sense in an ‘iron sharpens iron’ context, with both men looking to get better to get ahead of the other for a place in the first-team.
But at the same time, once Liverpool’s injury problems are over, there is going to be an oversaturation of centre-backs at the club. And even with players competing with one another, there’s going to be a few more disgruntled centre-backs further down the line.
So unless there are some departures in that department this summer, Jürgen Klopp is going to have a tough task on his hands keeping all of them happy when it comes to playing time.
In other news: ‘This could end up in court’ – TalkSport pundit drops big claim on Liverpool star