Liverpool have enquired about the availability of Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou
According to a report from CaughtOffside, Liverpool have approached German champions Bayer Leverkusen for the signing of highly-rated defender Odilon Kossounou.
Arne Slot has not made any signing so far this summer and with just less than a month left for the 2024/25 Premier League season to commence, Liverpool have to move quickly now in order to bolster their squad. A central defender is high on the new Reds gaffer’s wishlist, and Odilon Kossounou is a player the club admires.
Kossounou joined Bayer Leverkusen from Club Brugge in the summer of 2021 and has gone from strength to strength since. The Ivory Coast international has established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting young defenders. He played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s incredible 2023/24 season, where they went the whole domestic campaign unbeaten—winning the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal in the process.
However, the aforementioned report claims the 23-year-old is ready to leave Bay Arena after two seasons and the Bundesliga champions are open to selling him this summer if a suitable offer is tabled. The Xabi Alonso-managed club are looking for around €40/€45 million to part ways with Kossounou, who is also on the radar of Newcastle United.
The Reds have lost Joel Matip on a free transfer at the end of June, and there is a possibility of defenders such as Nathaniel Phillips, Sepp van den Berg and Rhys Williams departing as well. The sale of Phillips, Van den Berg and Williams would boost the club’s transfer kitty, allowing Arne Slot to spend with more freedom but wisely to reinforce the backline for the upcoming campaign.
Furthermore, Virgil van Dijk has entered the final year of his contract and talks over an extension are yet to happen. Interestingly, as per a separate report from TEAMtalk, the Reds want a fee of €55m for the Netherlands star this summer—with our skipper a target for the cash-rich Saudi Pro League clubs.
Thus, with Matip leaving, Van Dijk’s future uncertain and Ibrahima Konate not being relied upon for a regular starter’s role, Liverpool’s requirement for a new top-quality centre-back this summer has become paramount. Kossounou, in that regard, would be a smart option for the Premier League giants.
Having not responded to Leverkusen’s new contract offer and being open to a move to the Premier League, Liverpool should find it less difficult to lure Kossounou to Anfield. Tall, strong and athletic, the Ivorian would immediately enhance Slot’s defensive spine. Considering his fitness and durability, he would be viewed as an upgrade on Konate and complement Van Dijk in central defence—if the Dutchman stays.
Kossounou is ready to make the move and Leverkusen should also be on board should the right offer come in. A player who grew up admiring Sergio Ramos, the Ivory Coast star is a physical presence at the back. Whether he will be the one to reinforce the Reds backline this summer remains to be seen.
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Keeping the player’s age, trajectory and qualities in mind, we must act quickly and pay the aforementioned quoted fee to sign Kossounou before Newcastle makes a move.
