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Liverpool have reportedly paused their search for a Mohamed Salah replacement to focus on more urgent priorities for the 2026-27 season, particularly addressing defensive concerns amid contractual uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate and other key players at Anfield.
Liverpool Shift Transfer Focus From Salah Replacement to Defence Amid Konate Contract Stalemate
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, negotiations between Liverpool and Ibrahima Konate over a contract renewal have stalled in recent weeks and appear unlikely to reach a definitive agreement. As a result, the Reds have decided to shift their approach in the summer transfer market, moving away from searching for a replacement for Mohamed Salah and instead prioritizing reinforcements in the defensive line ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Konate’s contractual uncertainty is compounded by similar situations involving Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, with both players seeing their current deals expire in 2027. This forces Liverpool to seek genuine reinforcements with the team’s long-term future in mind, with Marc Guehi reportedly remaining the top priority for defensive recruitment, although more players could be added to the list in the coming months.
Despite delaying the search for Salah’s replacement, Liverpool have not secured the Egyptian’s continuity beyond this season. According to Ornstein’s reports, the Reds have decided to keep Salah until the end of the current campaign and then analyze his future, with manager Arne Slot potentially relying on Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexander Isak to cover the right wing position.
Liverpool’s current season has been marked by inconsistency and serious injuries to key players, including Alexander Isak’s injury and Connor Bradley’s recent knee injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Despite these challenges, the club have made limited January signings, bringing in 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye from Amitie for 1.3 million dollars and reaching preliminary agreements for Noah Adekoya from Burnley U-19 and Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna.
The Athletic reports that Liverpool have decided against pursuing a star signing to replace Bradley at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong or Dominik Szoboszlai expected to fill this position throughout the season. Additionally, the club will not make any offers for Marc Guehi in January, hoping to reach an agreement for him to arrive as a free agent in the 2026-27 season instead.
