RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesTalks on for £17m England defender deal to solve crisis
Liverpool have walked into a crisis at centre-back ahead of the new season.
The Reds lost Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer with the France international joining Real Madrid.
Then there is the complicated case of Ifeanyi Ndukwe. The 18-year-old won’t be entitled to a work permit for the 2026/27 campaign and must instead find another club on loan.
Factor in injuries and you have got the perfect storm.
Liverpool's centre-back crisis
The latest to go down was Joe Gomez - in the preseason friendly against Sunderland last weekend. The 29-year-old is now expected to be sidelined for a month.
Giovanni Leoni is not yet fit to play matches following a devastating ACL blow last season.
That leaves Jeremy Jacquet as the likely partner for Virgil van Dijk when the season kicks off as the only alternative would be teenager Mor Talla Ndiaye.
But Jacquet, 21, has never played in the Premier League and is only just back following an injury setback of his own.
Talks on for Fikayo Tomori
The 2024/25 Premier League champions need numbers and quality at the back ahead of the new campaign kicking off.
And they could do with some experience in order to spare Leoni and Jacquet the full rigours of a Premier League season.
Into the picture steps Fikayo Tomori with Fichajes in Spain now reporting that Liverpool are lining up a deal for the England defender.
“Liverpool have entered into direct talks with AC Milan to negotiate the transfer of Fikayo Tomori, a 28-year-old centre-back whose contract with the Italian club expires in 2027,” the report reads.
“The transfer fee for the England international is estimated at around €20 million. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola requested the signing to bolster his squad depth for next season.”
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£17m a bargain deal for Tomori
Tomori, 28, joined AC Milan back in 2021 from Chelsea and has taken to life in Serie A with relish.
He boasts a Scudetto but with a contract expiring in 2027 this is the final chance Ruben Amorim’s side will have to cash in on the stopper.
Therefore a bargain £17m deal could make sense for a player who boasts six caps and vast experience at the top level of domestic and European football.
A veteran of over 200 games now for the Rossoneri Tomori has played the vast majority of his career in Italy at centre-back with occasional, emergency outings at right-back.
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