Overview

• France’s national team confirmed Ibrahima Konaté has a right‑quadriceps issue and has been sent back to Liverpool, increasing short‑term defensive strain.
• Liverpool’s senior centre‑back pool is down to Virgil van Dijk, Konaté and Joe Gomez following Giovanni Leoni’s season‑ending ACL injury.
• RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is being linked again, with multiple outlets reporting a realistic price near €60m (£52m) and competition from Premier League clubs and Real Madrid.
• Reports say Liverpool are considering Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano, whose unresolved contract talks feature a signing‑fee hurdle as he approaches potential free‑agent status, with Bayern still pushing to extend.
• Coverage also notes a reset race for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi with Bayern and Real Madrid in the mix, plus Liverpool being linked to Nico Schlotterbeck and PSG’s Willian Pacho as alternative options.