“I have said this multiple times but this is the final straw. Just get him out and watch the team improve next season. Please do Jurgen Klopp refused to do” said Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, suggesting that Arne Slot should drop the Liverpool star who earns more than Diaz and Jones combined.

Liverpool regained their form during Jurgen Klopp’s final season as manager.

The 2022/23 campaign was tumultuous, culminating in the end of their eight-year streak in the Champions League. However, significant summer changes brought renewed optimism to Anfield.

Despite winning the Carabao Cup in February, Liverpool fell short in the Premier League title race. They were pulled out of contention from a tight three-horse race after a disappointing April, which also saw Klopp’s side eliminated by Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals. Atalanta went on to become champions, defeating Bayer Leverkusen, who had been unbeaten in 51 games, in the final.

Although it seemed Liverpool’s chances for major silverware were dashed, Klopp’s January announcement of his departure put the squad under scrutiny. In retrospect, the season highlighted the team’s progress and potential.

Enter Arne Slot, who must now take the foundation left by his predecessor and build a team capable of securing first place in the top flight, advancing deep into the Champions League, and competing for the trophy.

The Dutchman has a highly talented squad to choose from, but there is a pressing concern about the lack of depth at centre-back. A new signing is needed to ensure Ibrahima Konate does not begin the 2024/25 season as Virgil van Dijk’s primary partner.

Ibrahima Konate’s season in numbers
Konate is undoubtedly a high-quality defender who stepped up admirably after Joel Matip’s season-ending ACL injury in December. With Matip’s contract now expired and his departure from Anfield, bolstering the defence is crucial.

The France international, described as a “monstrous” talent earlier in 2024 by writer Leanne Prescott, is indeed one of the most athletically imposing and technically impressive defenders in the league. However, Konate has been plagued by inconsistent form and an injury history that is concerning.

According to FBref, Konate ranks among the top 5% of central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries, the top 11% for successful take-ons, the top 16% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for tackles, and the top 2% for aerial duels won per 90 minutes.

These statistics highlight his elite set of core attributes. Despite this, Konate has struggled to consistently combine these skills in recent weeks, resulting in him losing his place in the starting lineup. He was benched for seven of Klopp’s final ten Premier League matches.

The 6 foot 4 titan was at the center of Liverpool’s disappointing spring, which saw their Premier League title bid falter. His performance during the loss to Atalanta was particularly poor, with The Athletic’s James Pearce describing him as “dreadful.”

To further highlight the 24-year-old’s struggles, Liverpool icon and pundit Jamie Carragher stated, “Konate has been so poor. Liverpool need to buy a centre-back in the summer.”

Why Slot must remove Konate from the starting XI
It’s remarkable that Van Dijk maintained such high levels of performance throughout the year, despite his teammates frequently being unavailable. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson both had spells on the sidelines, Matip’s season was cut short, and Konate only started 17 Premier League matches.

The rise of Jarell Quansah helped alleviate these issues, as the 21-year-old proved to be a promising talent for Liverpool’s future. This week, he was even called up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional European Championship squad for England.

Quansah’s strong finish to the year, starting alongside his Dutch captain in eight of the club’s final 11 league games, indicates Klopp’s confidence in him. However, there will likely be competition for a regular starting spot once Slot begins shaping his team.

The table above indicates that Konate and Quansah have performed at relatively similar levels. While both possess natural skills and proactive defensive techniques, Carragher is correct in insisting that Slot, Michael Edwards, and Richard Hughes take decisive action to strengthen the backline with a high-quality addition.

Numerous rumors have been circulating, including Lille defender Leny Yoro, an 18-year-old talent recently mentioned by the French outlet Le Parisien. Slot is reportedly looking to compete with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for this promising player.

Considering Konate earns £70k per week, which is more than both Luis Diaz (£55k per week) and Curtis Jones (£15k per week) combined, he should be consistently securing a spot in the starting lineup, especially four seasons after his £36m move from RB Leipzig.

However, he has shown that he can’t be relied upon as the main partner to his captain. While Diaz might be inefficient in front of goal, he is tireless and maintains a strong presence down Liverpool’s left channel, having started every Premier League game for Liverpool since the beginning of January.\

Based on this evidence, the Colombian is more than earning his salary. Konate will need to elevate his performance significantly if he wants to renew his contract and match his natural ability with results on the pitch.

Regardless, Slot would be making a serious mistake if he begins his first campaign at Merseyside without addressing the need to strengthen the backline and restore Liverpool’s defense to its former strength.