Liverpool failed to replace Ibrahima Konate this summer when the centre-half joined Real Madrid as a free agent, but could look at bolstering their backline in the January window

Liverpool are ready to spend £42million to secure Finn Jeltsch in the January transfer window, as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez see their contracts tick down. It's no secret that the heart of Andoni Iraola's defence has proved a slight cause for concern this season, given the club failed to sign an out and out replacement for Ibrahima Konate this summer following the centre-back's departure for Real Madrid as a free agent.

While Virgil van Dijk has proven that he still has life in his legs at 35, and Jeremy Jacquet has well and truly acclimated to life in the Premier League since his arrival from Rennes this summer, the Reds are lacking depth at the back at present, especially with Giovanni Leoni still on the road to return from a long-term ACL injury sustained early last season.

Elsewhere, the contracts of both Van Dijk and Gomez are set to expire next summer, meaning the top brass at Anfield would be wise to start scouring the market early to bring in apt replacements as soon as possible. It now appears as though they have started doing exactly that, with Jeltsch reported to be a priority target.

As per Sport Witness, the 20-year-old has piqued the interest of Liverpool as a result of a stellar breakthrough season with VfB Stuttgart. Initially valued at around £30m, a wealth of interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs has seen Jeltsch's value soar over the past month or so, with reports suggesting that Liverpool are willing to pay as much as £42m for the talent.

However, the Reds will face stiff competition should they hope to secure the services of the young centre-half. That's because Juventus and Real Madrid are also thought to be tailing Jeltsch at present, meaning a bidding war could ensue when the transfer window reopens in a matter of months.

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It comes as Graeme Souness has urged the Reds to award Van Dijk with a fresh deal, highlighting the captain's importance to Iraola's set-up. However, given the Dutchman is well into the twilight years of his career, that would be simply delaying the inevitable and postponing much-needed action for another year.

Souness told Mirror Football last week: "I think there's still life left in Virgil, but what is he, 35 now? I think there's definitely another year left in him.

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"I mean, people criticised him when he got that terrible injury from the Everton goalkeeper [Jordan] Pickford, but he came back from that and it's a lazy thing to say, he's not the same player. I didn't see that.

"I think Konate was a difficult player to be playing with. I see there's still life left in Virgil. I'll be giving him another year anyway with an option to take a second year because he's a Rolls-Royce of a player.

"And if anything, he's got better the longer he's been at Liverpool. I mean that one. He's a Rolls-Royce. He's always been a Rolls-Royce. But as you get older, your brain should be kicking in and even seeing things earlier."

It comes as Liverpool have impressed early into 2026/27, as Iraola settles into his fresh surroundings - having succeeded Arne Slot in the summer. The Reds sit fourth in the Premier League standings after seven matches played, having enjoyed a hard-earned 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday on the road.

Up next for the club is a home clash with Villarreal on Tuesday, October 20 at 8pm. A return to Premier League action then awaits, as the club welcome Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, October 25 at 2pm.