The French centre-back will be Real Madrid’s first signing if Florentino Pérez wins the presidential election.

Liverpool have embarked on a deep restructuring with the clear goal of leaving behind an extremely turbulent and trophyless year. The top management of the club has made drastic decisions to steer the course of the first team, which has ensured the arrival of Andoni Iraola.

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The arrival of the Basque strategist, approved by both the squad and the fans, marks the start of a necessary metamorphosis that aims to heal recent internal fractures in the dressing room. This new technical cycle will require bold action in the offices, with a focus on countering a massive talent loss that directly affects the defensive line. Liverpool are going to sign Maxime Estève to replace Ibrahima Konaté, who has signed for Real Madrid.

Liverpool find the successor to Ibrahima Konaté

Liverpool’s sporting management is taking on the challenge of dealing with a very aggressive generational change in the upcoming summer transfer market. After Mohamed Salah, one of the club’s greatest legends in modern times, left the club, the significant loss of Ibrahima Konaté in defence has been added.

The French defender’s contract is expiring, and his transfer to Real Madrid has already been publicly announced in Spain. This creates a huge hole in the team’s centre-back rotation. Faced with this complex scenario, the Reds’ new coach has asked for a young and dynamic candidate to build up the defensive line ahead of the start of pre-season in England.

Maxime Estève appears as a priority at Anfield

On the list of candidates that the British management is considering to fill the position, the name Maxime Estève stands out with undisputed strength over the other options. According to TEAMtalk, the 24-year-old French defender fits exactly into the tactical profile Iraola requires to develop his characteristic high pressure and vertical style of play.

Despite the bitter relegation with Burnley, the French-born player’s performances have been remarkable. He shows considerable competitive maturity and a great ability to anticipate and correct pressing situations in the Premier League.

Several clubs are chasing the Frenchman

The competition to secure Maxime Estève’s services will not be an easy task for Liverpool, given his significant reputation on the islands. Burnley, who bought the rights to him in 2024 for €12 million, acknowledge that it is impossible to keep the star in the second division. But they will require a significant financial investment to approve his resignation.

With a contract valid until June 2030 and a market value estimated by Transfermarkt at €28 million, clubs such as Chelsea and Crystal Palace are also trying to lure the player – who has previously attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool want to outmanoeuvre their rivals

Liverpool’s management aims to expedite formal contacts to outmanoeuvre their London rivals and secure the arrival of Burnley’s highly sought-after centre-back.

The club’s international prestige and the promise of a leading role in the new coaching staff are the most important assets to attract the French player. With approved sports reports and the support of the technical department, Liverpool are confident of completing this strategic inclusion to lay the foundations for a project that aims to immediately reclaim the throne of English football.

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