Liverpool ready to splash £70m on Barcelona's Kounde as Van Dijk makes heartfelt plea for Konate

The Reds are gearing up for a potential defensive overhaul, with the Spanish giants reportedly open to negotiating Kounde's departure should the financial package prove sufficiently tempting. Liverpool's interest comes as questions linger about Konate's commitment to Merseyside beyond the summer, when his contract runs down.

Konate has been the subject of persistent speculation surrounding a free transfer to Real Madrid when his deal expires. His form this season has been decidedly patchy, though there are signs of improvement emerging of late. The club has tabled fresh terms in an attempt to persuade the Frenchman to commit his future, but the Reds are clearly hedging their bets.

Having already committed £60m to snapping up Jeremy Jacquet from Chelsea in January, Liverpool are now eyeing Kounde as additional reinforcement at the back. The Barcelona man has long been on the radar of Premier League suitors and came agonisingly close to joining Chelsea back in summer 2022 before ultimately opting for the Catalan club instead.

At the Nou Camp, the 27-year-old has established himself as a cornerstone of their defence, prized for both his technical ability and positional flexibility across the backline. His capacity to operate at right-back or centre-half has not gone unnoticed by Liverpool's hierarchy, who believe €80m (£70m) represents a realistic proposition.

Barcelona's precarious financial situation means they would likely entertain such an offer, though manager Hansi Flick views Kounde as integral to his plans. The Spanish outfit are also understood to view Liverpool and Manchester United's interest as a means of driving up his valuation from €65m to €80m.

Kounde himself has previously indicated that a Premier League switch holds considerable appeal, and the prospect of challenging English football represents a tantalising opportunity for the French international.

Yet it is Van Dijk's recent comments that shine a spotlight on the broader picture at Anfield. Speaking after Liverpool's win against Sunderland, the captain made an impassioned case for Konate's retention, describing him as a "world-class" operator both on and off the pitch.

"We are friends, we speak about everything," Van Dijk explained to reporters. "It's a process and let's see what comes out of it. It's never that easy. We saw with my own situation last year so it's never that easy that we can just say 'let's get it done'."

The skipper emphasised Konate's importance to the squad beyond mere tactical contribution. "Obviously I want him to stay. He's an important figure on the pitch. That's what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he's one of the leaders," Van Dijk continued.

"He's outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back. I can do only so much but it's in the club's hands, together with his agents and himself so let's see what comes out of it but I have no influence otherwise on that."