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The LFC Transfer Pulse Roundup: A Week of Defensive Drama and Contract Chaos

 

By LFC Transfer Rumours

 

Right then, Liverpool fans – what a mental week it's been in the transfer rumor mill! While we're still months away from the January window opening, the whispers around Anfield are getting louder by the day, and frankly, most of it's centered around one massive headache: our defense. Let me break down what's been doing the rounds this past week.

 

The Nico Schlotterbeck Saga Takes a Twist

The biggest story that's had everyone talking is the Nico Schlotterbeck situation at Borussia Dortmund. According to BILD, Liverpool have "made contact" with the 25-year-old German center-back's representatives, and get this – we're apparently even considering a January move for him.​

 

Now, Schlotterbeck's been a proper talent since breaking through at Freiburg before moving to Dortmund. He's got that perfect blend of pace, aerial ability, and ball-playing skills that Arne Slot absolutely loves in his defenders. The lad's been a regular for Germany too, which tells you everything about his quality.

 

But here's where it gets interesting. Florian Plettenberg from Sky Germany threw a spanner in the works yesterday, claiming Liverpool aren't actually pursuing Schlotterbeck at all. Though as one journalist put it: "Considering Plettenberg's track record, which can be unpredictable, I remain skeptical about Liverpool's lack of interest".​

 

David Lynch, who knows his stuff when it comes to Liverpool transfers, reckons Schlotterbeck would be a much better shout than some of the other names being thrown around: "Schlotterbeck makes a lot more sense for Liverpool, and he's the better player as well... Liverpool might see it as an opportunity to develop him". The lad's contract runs until 2027, but word is he's not keen on extending with Dortmund, especially with Bayern Munich also sniffing around.​

 

The Konate Contract Headache Continues

Speaking of defensive worries, the Ibrahima Konate contract situation is giving me proper nightmares. David Ornstein dropped his latest update this week, and it's not exactly reassuring: "There have been reports that Konate has turned down a new contract. I don't believe it's a straightforward rejection; it seems more like a stalemate or a failure to reach an agreement at this point".​

 

The Athletic confirmed this week that there's been "no breakthrough in contract talks between Liverpool and Ibrahima Konaté as discussions continue". With his deal expiring next summer, Real Madrid are circling like vultures, and we all know how that story usually ends. The French international is reportedly worth €60 million on the free transfer market, which would make him the most valuable free agent available in 2026.​

 

What's mental is that if Konate leaves on a free, it'll be exactly what happened with Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer. Lightning striking twice? You've got to be kidding me.

 

Marc Guehi: The One That Got Away (Again?)

Remember that deadline day drama with Marc Guehi? Well, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has been doing the media rounds explaining why they pulled the plug at the last minute. He told talkSPORT: "I decided in the end that, based on the advice that I got and with what I think, that we would have a better season if we kept Marc".​

 

The interesting bit is what's happening next summer. According to The Athletic, Liverpool have made a proper decision about Guehi – they're willing to wait until he becomes a free agent rather than pay a fee in January. It's a risky strategy though, because clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona can start talking to him from January, while we have to wait until much later due to English FA rules.​

James Pearce reckons any repeat attempt at signing Guehi is "much more likely to happen next summer than in January" , which makes sense given our spending spree last summer.​

 

January Window Expectations: Don't Hold Your Breath

Speaking of Pearce, he's been pretty clear about what to expect in January. In his latest Q&A for The Athletic, he said: "After a summer of unprecedented spending from the club, it wouldn't surprise me if the January window is very quiet".​

Even with Giovanni Leoni's season-ending ACL injury, Pearce thinks the club are still "relaxed about their centre-back options" because "Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson can also operate there". Honestly, if we're relying on fullbacks and midfielders to play center-back again, I'm getting flashbacks to that nightmare 2020-21 season.​

 

The Upamecano Alternative

While all this is going on, Fabrizio Romano has been dropping hints about Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano, who's also available on a free next summer. But Lynch isn't convinced, telling Sports Mole: "Upamecano's got mistakes in him... there are weaknesses there in Upamecano that would get exposed regularly in the Premier League".​

 

It's mad to think that Upamecano and Konate used to be partners at RB Leipzig, and now they might both be on the move next summer – possibly in opposite directions.

 

What's clear from this week's rumors is that January might be quieter than expected, but next summer could be absolutely mental. Between Konate potentially leaving, Guehi available on a free, and targets like Schlotterbeck possibly moving, it's shaping up to be another massive defensive overhaul.

 

The frustrating part is that we nearly had Guehi sorted in the summer, Konate should have signed his extension ages ago, and now we're playing catch-up in a market where everyone knows we need defenders. Classic Liverpool transfer logic, that.

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks – something tells me this defensive merry-go-round is just getting started.