Liverpool have been encouraged to make an £80 million offer for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, according to former Reds midfielder Jason McAteer. The suggestion comes as Liverpool seek to bolster their defensive options following a summer that has already seen the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz.
Liverpool had previously hoped to sign both Ibrahima Konate and Jacquet, but Konate ultimately joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, leaving a void in the centre-back position. While Virgil van Dijk remains a key figure, his age and recent injury concerns have prompted the club to consider reinforcements. Joe Gomez has also struggled with fitness, while the younger options, Giovanni Leoni and Jacquet, lack extensive experience.
McAteer believes Konsa, 28, represents a ‘ready-made’ solution, praising his performances for Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery and his versatility within the defence. He highlighted Konsa’s consistent performance level, rating him a “solid 7.5 out of 10 every game”, and pointed to his experience at the recent World Cup as further evidence of his quality.
Konsa has established himself as a key player for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2019. He has been a consistent performer under Emery, contributing to a significant improvement in Villa’s defensive record. However, McAteer suggests that Villa’s recent sales of players like Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, coupled with Financial Fair Play considerations, could make them receptive to a substantial offer from Liverpool. He believes that the financial incentive would be difficult for Villa to turn down.
Securing Konsa would address a pressing need for Liverpool and provide competition and depth in a crucial position. The potential transfer could also signal a shift towards signing established Premier League players rather than relying solely on developing younger talent.
