Liverpool Transfer News: Schlotterbeck and Kim Among the Potential Centre-back Replacements for Konate Amid Iraola Links
Ben McAleer
On Sunday, Liverpool confirmed that Ibrahima Konate will leave the club this summer. The Frenchman’s future had been up in the air for some time now. And while reports of a breakthrough in negotiations did the rounds, the former RB Leipzig man follows Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson out of the Anfield exit.
The news comes a day after Arne Slot was relieved of his duties on Merseyside. Two years after succeeding Jurgen Klopp, the ex-Feyenoord boss paid for a sub-par title defence with his job.
Andoni Iraola is the favourite to take over the Liverpool reins, and one of the first ports of call will be to sign a Konate replacement, this despite the impending arrival of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. With that, we’ve picked out four potential options Liverpool could target that would suit Iraola’s style of play.
Nico Schlotterbeck - Borussia Dortmund
Admittedly, Nico Schlotterbeck signed a new Borussia Dortmund contract in April. The new deal runs until 2031. However, the Germany international is still a wanted man. Liverpool in particular are believed to be eyeing up a move for the 26-year-old, who’d be a fine replacement for Konate.
That he reportedly has a £52m release clause in the contract that can be triggered up until the World Cup final should certainly appeal to the Reds. That’s because Schlotterbeck is a centre-back that’ll thrive under Iraola.
Indeed, he is a handy distributor, as noted by a 88.3% pass success rate from 70.9 passes per 90 in the Bundesliga last season. Then there is his range of passing. 6.7 accurate long balls per 90, more than any other outfield player, highlights the speed with which Schlotterbeck can get the ball forward. The German is arguably the most expensive option but he’d be a welcome addition at Anfield.
Kim Min-Jae - Bayern Munich
Remaining in the Bundesliga, and this time turning our attention to Bayern Munich. Dayot Upamecano was one centre-back who could have left FC Hollywood before penning a new deal at the Allianz Arena. Upameanco’s decision to stay in Germany is expected to impact Kim Min-Jae’s game time again next season.
The South Korean was restricted to just 19 league starts in the 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign as he found himself behind Upamecano and Jonathan Tah in the centre-back pecking order. At 29 years of age, he’ll want the guarantee of regular action next season rather than to sit on the bench.
Kim’s best ability is his distribution. Only Tah (96.3%) had a better pass success rate than the former Napoli man (94.9%) in Germany’s top tier last term. What’s more, he’s a centre-back who looks to step forward to snuff out danger, having made the second most interceptions per 90 (2.2) in the division. Given his age and experience, Kim is the ideal player to bridge the gap between the aging Virgil van Dijk and the up and coming centre-back stars Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni.
Bremer - Juventus
Juventus’ failure to make the Champions League could benefit Liverpool. The Reds have previously been credited with an interest in Brazilian centre-back Bremer, and the Old Lady’s lack of top European action may just work in the Reds’ favour.
Like Kim, Bremer is also 29 years of age, which would suit this Liverpool side looking to bridge the experience gap at the heart of the defence. Admittedly, the Brazil international isn’t as refined as Kim.
However, he still knows how to pick a pass, while he’s deceptively good in the air, despite standing at 6ft2in, that in itself on the smaller side for a centre-back. As such, Bremer is a handy set-piece threat, which Juventus capitalised upon last season. Indeed, the former Torino man managed four goals and three assists in the 2025-26 Serie A campaign.
Illia Zabarnyi - Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain have previously been credited with an interest in Konate, and his decision to leave Liverpool may well see the centre-back make the move to the Parc des Princes. That in itself would result in Illia Zabarnyi being pushed further down the PSG pecking order.
The Ukrainian left Bournemouth for Paris last summer, yet his debut campaign in France didn’t quite go according to plan. The Ukrainian may have been a regular feature in Ligue 1, yet he was resoundingly criticised by the press for a series of sub-par showings, notably following the 2-1 home defeat to Lyon in April.
A return to England may just make sense. He’s a defender than Iraola knows well, and despite only turning 23 last September, boasts a wealth of top-flight experience. Should PSG pursue Konate, then Liverpool could do worse than consider taking Zabarnyi off of the European champions’ hands.
