Meanwhile, the Reds continue to be strongly linked with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, although there\u2019s a growing danger<\/a> that Manchester City could pounce for the England defender in this month\u2019s transfer window.<\/p>\n Collymore urges Liverpool to consider Konate-Konsa swap deal<\/p>\n Collymore has claimed that Liverpool instead ought to pursue a potential swap deal involving the Frenchman and Aston Villa\u2019s Ezri Konsa, believing that such an arrangement would be beneficial for all concerned.<\/p>\n The former Reds striker told BetWright (via The Mirror<\/a>): \u201cLiverpool must identify a replacement for Ibrahima Konate if he leaves, especially because I don\u2019t think Virgil van Dijk will be far behind him. I know there\u2019s been talk of Marc Guehi, but I\u2019m looking at someone like Ezri Konsa, who\u2019s probably going to start for England at the World Cup alongside\u00a0John Stones.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIf I was head of recruitment at Liverpool, I think Konsa and Guehi would both be deals that provide good value for money. Aston Villa have PSR issues that they need to address, so if they were to get a big fee for Konsa, they might have to consider it.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFor me, Konate thinks he\u2019s the best defender since sliced bread but hasn\u2019t played like it recently. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s thinking he\u2019ll be going to the likes of\u00a0PSG\u00a0or\u00a0Real Madrid, but could there be a swap deal where Konsa goes to Liverpool and Konate goes to Aston Villa? That would be something that would work for both parties.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Would Liverpool be likely to swap Konate for Konsa?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not unknown for Liverpool to consider exchanging players with fellow Premier League clubs \u2013 two summers ago, the Reds had negotiated a deal with Newcastle which would\u2019ve seen Joe Gomez and Anthony Gordon move in opposite directions, before the Tyneside club eased their PSR concerns with sales elsewhere (BBC Sport<\/a>).<\/p>\n However, whether FSG and Villa would agree to a swap involving Konsa and Konate is another matter, considering that the two clubs are now direct positional rivals and the Englishman\u2019s importance to Unai Emery\u2019s side.<\/p>\n For all the praise which has been heaped on the 27-year-old<\/a> and all the criticism that the Frenchman has copped<\/a> this season, the latter has actually outperformed his Villa Park counterpart for numerous underlying metrics, as the figures from FBref<\/a> illustrate below.<\/p>\n Liverpool might also have reservations about doing business with the Midlands club in light of Harvey Elliott\u2019s woes, with the 22-year-old (who\u2019s still technically a Reds player) being discarded by Emery and having no chance of seeing his loan move made permanent.<\/p>\n While theoretically Collymore\u2019s suggestion is sound, realistically it seems highly unlikely to materialise, even if the Villans still have PSR issues to resolve. For the time being, Guehi remains the England centre-back who\u2019s most likely to join Arne Slot\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n![\"Ezri](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ezri-konsa.jpg\")
(Photo by Alex Pantling\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n 2025\/26 Premier League stats<\/strong><\/td>\n Konsa<\/strong><\/td>\n Konate<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Minutes played<\/td>\n 1,775<\/td>\n 1,786<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Tackle success<\/td>\n 50%<\/td>\n 78.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Tackles and interceptions<\/td>\n 25<\/td>\n 42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Clearances<\/td>\n 77<\/td>\n 129<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Aerial duels success<\/td>\n 53.8%<\/td>\n 72.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ball recoveries<\/td>\n 59<\/td>\n 60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Take-on success<\/td>\n 54.5%<\/td>\n 66.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n