Richard Hughes might be on the verge of departing Liverpool at the close of the 2025-26 season, but that doesn’t give him any reason to take it easy this summer.
The Englishman has already secured a deal for Victor Munoz, and with so many players being rumored to join Liverpool, it seems likely that another signing will be announced soon.
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However, given that title contenders like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal are also actively pursuing new signings, it’s clear that there’s still much work to be done.
At this point in the summer transfer window, one might have expected to see more action from Liverpool.
While some transfers have already occurred, even those that might seem minor, one deal that Hughes has confirmed has the potential to be the highlight of Liverpool’s transfer window.
Letting Ibrahima Konate Go Could Be Their Best Move
While Liverpool may have preferred to secure some form of transfer fee for Ibrahima Konate‘s exit, his departure could ultimately prove crucial.
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Despite being Virgil van Dijk’s partner for many seasons, the number of errors he committed last season was alarming.
Numerous defeats for the Reds can be attributed to the Frenchman, and his absence might have led to improved results.
Moreover, Konate’s exit opens the door for the opportunity for Anfield to further develop Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, which wouldn’t have been possible had Konate remained.
Additionally, Joe Gomez is among the options available to Andoni Iraola, but considering recent transfer trends, Gomez may also be linked with a move away this summer, especially given that he is now 29.
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Thus, while Liverpool may have only four senior centre-backs this season, Konate’s departure could have been precisely the change they needed.
Ibrahima Konate Highlighted His Accident-Prone Nature Against England
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One reason behind Liverpool’s slow progress this summer is the World Cup.
The tournament has occupied players’ thoughts and now that it is nearing its end, we could witness a surge of transfer activity.
However, England’s recent 6-4 victory over France demonstrated once again that Konate struggles with consistency.
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In that match, he was thrust into a starting role following William Saliba’s injury.
While many expected England to face a tough challenge from their European rivals, they instead dominated, initially leading 4-0 as Konate’s positioning and defensive efforts fell short of expectations.
According to Sofascore, Konate struggled defensively, winning only 25% of ground duels, committing two fouls, losing possession four times, and managing just 27 touches in the 45 minutes he played.
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These stats, coupled with his overall performance, suggest that Liverpool’s decision to part ways with him could be one of the smartest moves of the summer, especially if they successfully replace him with a superior player.