Liverpool continue to be linked with defenders in this summer’s transfer window.
Arne Slot’s arrival has raised the excitement level around Anfield. Yes, it is a bit scary to imagine life after Jurgen Klopp, but the new Reds boss is said to be a bit similar to his predecessor.
It will be interesting to see how Slot will fare in his first season in the Premier League, but before that happens, there is the small matter of summer signings.
Liverpool have been linked with a number of names over the last few weeks, many of whom are centre-backs.
Here’s the latest on one of them.
Liverpool want to sign Odilon Kossounou
Liverpool should definitely bring in a new centre-back in this window.
Joel Matip will leave the club at the end of his contract, while Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger. Ibrahima Konate had a poor end to the 2023/24 season and Jarrell Quansah is still a bit too young to take over the reins.
A new central defender should be high on Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards’ agenda, and they have been linked with quite a few names.
One of them is Odilon Kossounou of Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old, who won the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast in 2024, played 21 games for Xabi Alonso’s side and helped them lift the Bundesliga title.
Kossounou is appreciated by many clubs, and the Daily Briefing have revealed that Liverpool really like him too.
The report claims that the Reds are joined by Manchester United and Newcastle in pursuit of the centre-half, who will enter the final two years of his contract in July.
It has been revealed that Liverpool have placed Kossounou near the top of their list of targets, and he is open to leaving Leverkusen this summer.
However, the German champions are seeking a fee in the region of €45 million (£38m) to let him go.
What is Kossounou’s style of play?
Kossounou is one of the most talented centre-backs in the German top flight.
The Ivorian has earned a ton of praise during his time at Leverkusen, with the club’s sporting director Simon Rolfes saying, as per Bundesliga’s website: “He’s really quick, agile, strong in the challenge, technically good and still hasn’t realised his full potential. He has everything needed to play an important role in our team.”
That fits what Liverpool, or most other teams that matter, look for in a centre-half, and the fact that he has been playing under Alonso means he’s comfortable playing out from the back as well.
Furthermore, even though Kossounou admired watching Sergio Ramos earlier in his career, the Bundesliga’s official website compares him to Bayern Munich and Germany legend Jerome Boateng.
“Strong, quick, physical and great with the ball at his feet, Kossounou – who started out life as a midfielder – admired serial Spanish winner Sergio Ramos earlier in his career, but it’s former Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng that is probably more similar in comparison,” they write.
With think Kossounou would be a good option for Liverpool this summer, and he could eventually be the heir to Van Dijk’s throne at Anfield.
