Liverpool's Urgent Search for Experienced Centre-Back

Andoni Iraola has wasted no time in making his first big demand at Liverpool. He wants a centre-back. An experienced one. And he wants him in before the season starts.

The new head coach has already had a harsh look at the reality of his defensive options. A disrupted pre-season, a couple of untimely absences, and suddenly Liverpool’s back line looked alarmingly thin.

In the friendly win over Sunderland, that fragility was laid bare. Joe Gomez lasted less than 10 minutes before going off, leaving Iraola to lean on 18-year-olds Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe to see out the game. Promising talents, yes. But nowhere near the level of security a manager expects heading into a Premier League campaign.

Virgil van Dijk remains on an extended post-World Cup break. Summer signings Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are still working their way back from injury. Strip away the names and reputation, and Liverpool’s “senior” centre-back group currently feels like a skeleton crew.

That reality has triggered a clear response. Liverpool have accelerated their search for a defender, and the names under serious discussion are not small ones.

Stones at the centre of Liverpool’s thinking

High on the list sits John Stones. Out of contract after leaving Manchester City, the England international is now one of the most coveted free agents in Europe.

At 32, he brings the one thing Iraola’s current options lack: hardened, top-level experience. His World Cup campaign under Thomas Tuchel significantly boosted his stock and reminded everyone of his ability to operate at the highest tempo, under the brightest lights. Interest has come from across Europe, the Premier League, MLS and the Saudi Pro League.

Liverpool, though, have a key advantage. Stones is open to a move to Anfield. He has not committed to anything yet – he is also in talks with Arsenal and Chelsea as he weighs up his next step – but the door is very much open for Liverpool if they choose to walk through it.

If Iraola wants a defender who can step straight into a title-chasing side and organise a back line, Stones fits that profile as well as anyone on the market.

Konsa’s versatility catches the eye

John Stones is not the only England international on Liverpool’s radar.

Ezri Konsa has emerged as a genuine option, and for reasons that go beyond simple defending. At Aston Villa, Konsa has shown he can play at centre-back and right-back, a blend of roles that fits neatly with Iraola’s vision of a flexible, aggressive back line.

Liverpool value that versatility. With Trent Alexander-Arnold often stepping inside and systems becoming more fluid, a defender comfortable on the right and in the middle offers obvious tactical advantages.

Arsenal remain keen on Konsa, and have been for some time, but Liverpool have now entered that conversation. He is one of several names being assessed, yet clearly more than a passing thought.

Zabarnyi: a familiar face for Iraola

There is also a more personal angle in Liverpool’s search.

The club have been made aware that Illia Zabarnyi could become available from Paris Saint-Germain. The Ukraine international, formerly of Bournemouth, has grown frustrated with his lack of regular minutes in France.

For Iraola, this is not just another scouting report. He knows Zabarnyi extremely well from their time together on the south coast and remains a huge admirer of the centre-back’s game. Composed, front-foot, and comfortable defending space – the kind of profile that aligns neatly with how Iraola wants his team to play.

Any deal for Zabarnyi would be complicated, but if the situation opens up, Liverpool’s head coach would welcome the chance to work with him again.

Dream targets out of reach – for now

Alongside these realistic options sit two long-standing “dream” signings.

Levi Colwill at Chelsea and Micky van de Ven at Tottenham Hotspur remain players Liverpool would move for without hesitation if either club softened their stance. Both are young, left-sided, and built for a high defensive line – exactly the type Liverpool have admired for some time.

Right now, that admiration looks likely to stay theoretical. Chelsea and Spurs have no intention of letting them go. Sources close to the situation describe those deals as highly unlikely at this stage.

Still, Liverpool are keeping the file open. In a volatile market, situations can flip quickly.

Monitoring the wider market

Liverpool’s recruitment team have also kept tabs on two other long-term targets: Antonio Silva and Ousmane Diomande.

Silva is expected to complete a move to Bournemouth, while Nottingham Forest are advancing in talks for Diomande. Neither deal involves Liverpool directly, yet the club have continued to receive updates on both players, a reflection of how long they have admired them and how closely they track elite defensive talent.

For now, the focus is clear. Iraola wants another senior centre-back in the building. Stones, Konsa and Zabarnyi headline a shortlist that blends experience, versatility and familiarity.

Pre-season has already exposed the risk of going into a new campaign light at the back. The question now is simple: which defender will Liverpool trust to steady the line as Iraola’s era truly begins?