Liverpool have been told to consider one Premier League swap transfer that would see an England international arrive at Anfield
Arne Slot could solve two issues at the same time after one Liverpool swap was proposed(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore has mooted a potential swap deal between the two clubs ahead of the January transfer window deadline. And it’s a proposal that could benefit both sides in the long term.
With Ibrahima Konate’s inconsistent performances this season, Collymore has suggested he could be offered to Villa in return for Ezri Konsa. Konate, 26, is in the final months of his contract and is understood to be attracting interest from European heavyweights including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG.
However, such high-profile moves may not materialise in the summer if his current form continues. Collymore believes England international Konsa, who is two years Konate’s senior and tied down until 2028, could prove to be a shrewd piece of business as his successor.
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“Liverpool must identify a replacement for Ibrahima Konate if he leaves, especially because I don’t think Virgil van Dijk will be far behind him,” he told BetWright football betting. “I know there’s been talk of Marc Guehi, but I’m looking at someone like Ezri Konsa, who’s probably going to start for England at the World Cup alongside John Stones.
“If I was head of recruitment at Liverpool, I think Konsa and Guehi would both be deals that provide good value for money. Aston Villa have PSR issues that they need to address, so if they were to get a big fee for Konsa, they might have to consider it.
“For me, Konate thinks he’s the best defender since sliced bread but hasn’t played like it recently. I’m sure he’s thinking he’ll be going to the likes of PSG or Real Madrid, but could there be a swap deal where Konsa goes to Liverpool and Konate goes to Aston Villa? That would be something that would work for both parties.”
There’s one aspect that Collymore may have overlooked: Konate’s own intentions. The Frenchman is set to depart on a free transfer in the summer, at which stage he’ll be able to negotiate a significantly higher salary, as the club acquiring him will save considerably on a transfer fee.
Then there’s the assumption Konate would be willing to link up with Unai Emery at Villa Park when he’s recently been associated with some of Europe’s top clubs. It’s also a substantial transaction to finalise with just over a fortnight remaining in the January window, though not beyond the realms of possibility given it would be a straight swap.
“A lot depends on Konate – if he plays like he was last season, then he should be able to attract an elite Champions League club,” Collymore continued. “However, if his form continues to be scratchy, there’s no guarantee he’ll move to a club of that calibre. That’s where the likes of Villa or Newcastle could potentially strike a deal with Liverpool.”
It’s easy to see why Liverpool might be keen on such a transfer, providing them with an in-form centre-back option. It would also spare Arne Slot’s team the inconvenience of losing Konate for nothing and having to hunt for a replacement, which would likely come at a significant cost.
Securing Konsa this month would also offer the added advantage of bolstering their right-back options. Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury has left a gap on the right side of Slot’s defence, and Konsa has proved his competence in that role for both club and country.
As Collymore pointed out, Van Dijk also appears set to depart Anfield in the not-too-distant future and is contracted until June 2027. Unless there’s a sudden breakthrough in negotiations over Konate’s contract, the 2022 World Cup runner-up will conclude his stint on Merseyside this summer.
Liverpool and Villa currently sit one place apart in the Premier League table, although Emery’s squad are eight points ahead in third. From this viewpoint, selling a key player to a direct rival at this stage of the season may seem unwise, but Villa’s necessity to adhere to spending limits could present an opportunity for Liverpool to seize.
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