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Arne Slot gets green light in pursuit for £24m centre-back
TL;DR
Liverpool is set to pursue a £24 million centre-back this summer, with Arne Slot leading the charge. The club aims to strengthen its defense after recent signings of younger players.
Key points
- Liverpool is pursuing a £24 million centre-back.
- Arne Slot is leading the transfer efforts.
- Recent signings include Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet, and Mor Talla Ndiaye.
Arne Slot gets green light in pursuit for £24m centre-back
Liverpool have been tipped to sign an experienced centre-back in the summer transfer window.
Richard Hughes has taken steps to shore up the position long into the future - through the signings of Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet and Mor Talla Ndiaye.
But given their age and relative lack of top-flight action there would be a risk attached to throwing those three in at the deep end.
There are question marks in the short term against most - if not all - of Liverpool’s senior centre-back options and that makes it imperative to secure the position.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out of contract in 2027 and it would be no surprise to see the Premier League champions entertain bids for the 28-year-old Englishman this summer.
More alarmingly Ibrahima Konate still hasn’t signed his new deal - despite claiming a couple of weeks ago that it was all but done.
Arne Slot wants Sam Beukema
Accordingly the likes of Micky van de Ven and Goncalo Inacio have been linked with a transfer to Merseyside. But one long-term Arne Slot favourite is beginning to emerge on the radar.
Sam Beukema, 27, was wanted by Slot when he was head coach of Feyenoord and the defender was starring for Go Ahead Eagles.
Slot missed out on a deal for his compatriot - who has since carved out a career for himself in Serie A. Beukema was picked up by Bologna from AZ back in 2023 before moving to Napoli last summer.
It hasn’t been the move that the 2024/25 Coppa Italia winner had been hoping for however with the outgoing Serie A champions now willing to cash in.
Q&A
Who is the centre-back Liverpool is targeting for £24 million?
The specific centre-back Liverpool is targeting has not been named in the article.
What steps has Richard Hughes taken to improve Liverpool's defense?
Richard Hughes has signed Giovanni Leoni, Jeremy Jacquet, and Mor Talla Ndiaye to enhance the defensive lineup.
Why is there a risk in relying on Liverpool's new signings?
The new signings are relatively young and lack significant top-flight experience, making them a risky choice for immediate play.
