Well, Liverpool have just made their first signing of the summer.
The Reds have completed a deal to sign Ibrahima Konate for £36 million [Sky Sports].
In doing so, Liverpool have made the former Red Bull Leipzig centre-back their first signing of what promises to be an exciting next few months on Merseyside.
The Anfield club finished third in the Premier League table this past season and therefore reinforcements are needed before Jurgen Klopp’s side can wrestle the title back from Manchester City.
It is no secret that Liverpool’s crisis of centre-back options last term clearly hindered their title bid.
But Konate adds much-needed depth and will challenge the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez for a starting spot next season.
One player who might not be there is Nat Phillips, however.
The 24-year-old was a pillar in the Reds’ back four during the final months of the season but The Independent has reported today that Konate’s arrival has the club’s academy product is thinking about leaving as a result of the Frenchman rendering him a fifth-choice option next season.
Should he go?
It’ll break Phillips’s heart but the answer is yes, he should.
The big man has proven himself a very capable defender in the Premier League but he’ll have a taste for playing every single week now.
But it goes without saying that Phillips might even struggle to make Klopp’s squad on a regular basis next season when Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip are back, along with Konate.
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