£17 million fee could rescue Liverpool’s centre‑back crisis

Liverpool are in direct talks to sign England defender Fikayo Tomori from AC Milan for a reported £17 million fee, a move aimed at plugging the Reds' centre‑back crisis ahead of the new season as the club scrambles to replace Ibrahima Konate and cover injuries to key defenders.

The deal would replace Ibrahima Konate, who left on a FREE transfer to Real Madrid, joining the Spanish giants as a France international. Konate’s exit leaves Liverpool without a Premier League‑tested centre‑back, deepening the defensive shortage.

In the preseason friendly against Sunderland last weekend, 29‑year‑old Joe Gomez suffered an injury expected to keep him out for a month. Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from a devastating ACL injury, limiting his availability for the start of the campaign.

Jeremy Jacquet, 21, is being positioned as a potential partner for Virgil van Dijk, but he has never played in the Premier League and is only just returning from his own injury setback. The only other option mentioned is teenager Mor Talla Ndiaye, who remains an untested alternative.

Complicating matters further, 18‑year‑old Ifeanyi Ndukwe will not qualify for a work permit for the 2026/27 season and must seek a loan move elsewhere, underscoring the limited depth at centre‑back.

Tomori’s contract with AC Milan runs until 2027, and the reported £17 million fee is described as a bargain given his experience and the remaining length of his deal.

The 28‑year‑old brings over 200 senior appearances, six caps for England and a Serie A title, offering the experience Liverpool need to cover Leoni and Jacquet throughout the Premier League season.

For the Rossoneri, the transaction would provide a £17 million return before Tomori’s contract expires, reflecting a broader market trend of clubs cashing in on players with several years left on their deals. It would give the Reds a more reliable defensive core.