Live4Liverpool.com

Liverpool are interested in signing Bournemouth defender Marco Senesi this summer, according to the latest reports.

According to CaughtOffside journalist Mark Brus, Liverpool are among the clubs monitoring Senesi’s situation, alongside Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 27-year-old has impressed with his performances for Bournemouth and is believed to be attracting growing interest due to his reliability at the back and ability to operate comfortably in possession.

Brus reports that Senesi’s consistent displays have placed him on the radar of several top-flight sides, with his Premier League experience making him an appealing option for clubs seeking immediate defensive reinforcement.

For Liverpool, his profile could be particularly relevant as they assess how to strengthen their defensive unit ahead of next season.

Brus reports: “Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham are all understood to be in talks over a potential free transfer swoop for Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi.

“The 28-year-old looks to have a growing list of options available to him, with Liverpool and Spurs also touching base with his representatives ahead of a potential summer move.

“Senesi is yet to make a final decision on his future, but Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have been in talks for some time,” one source said. “I wouldn’t rule out Premier League clubs just yet, but a move to Spain is more likely.”

“Keep an eye on Chelsea because they’re growing increasingly aware of the need to add some experience. With Senesi set to be available on a free he’s an ideal candidate,” another source explained.

“Meanwhile, Liverpool and Tottenham are both keen amid doubts over their current defensive options, with Ibrahima Konate heading towards the end of his contract, while Cristian Romero is understood to be likely to leave Spurs this summer.”

Fixing defensive balance needs to be a Liverpool priority this summer

The form of Ibrahima Konate has been a major concern this season, although it’s fair to cut him some slack, as almost every Liverpool player has regressed under Arne Slot this season. The Frenchman is reportedly closing in on a new contract, but he will need to improve drastically next season to warrant the extension.

Virgil van Dijk has been poor at times this season, but largely he remains one of the best in the business, even at 34. The lack of structure and Konate’s form has been damaging to his own performances. He has also made some uncharacteristically rash decisions, conceding the same number of penalties (4) this season as he did in his entire Liverpool career prior.

Giovanni Leoni has missed almost the entire season due to an ACL injury while Joe Gomez has been struggling with injury again although his recent return to fitness has not been followed by convincing performances.

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez for this weekend’s Premier League clash away to Tottenham through injury, Arne Slot has confirmed.

The Reds won 2-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday, but injuries to Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai were negatives on the day, as the absentees rack up for the champions.

Next up is a trip to Spurs on Saturday, but speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the victory over the Seagulls, Slot confirmed that Gomez is almost certainly going to miss the game:

“If I have a player who goes off with a muscle injury like Joe, that’s normally not a positive thing. I would not expect him to be in the squad next week [at Tottenham Hotspur]. But sometimes you get a positive surprise. People now maybe understand a bit better why I was always so cautious not to play him so many games. I assume many people thought, ‘If you have a defender, if you have a right full-back, why don’t you play him?’

“And Dom, it was his ankle. It didn’t look great when I just saw him. But he has unbelievable mentality so let’s hope for the best. The good thing is that Conor Bradley comes back from a suspension [next week] and normally Jeremie Frimpong will train with us also. But we’re also going to miss Mo [Salah] because he is going to go to the Africa Cup of Nations.”

The need for a new Liverpool centre-back highlighted

Gomez’s absence against Spurs is a blow for Liverpool, but on the plus side, Conor Bradley will be back from suspension to start at right-back.

This shows how much the Reds need to sign a new centre-back, rather than sell Ibrahima Konate, which has been surprisingly mooted of late.

The Frenchman and Virgil van Dijk are now the only fit options in that position, and Arne Slot cannot afford to have to play the likes of Wataru Endo or Ryan Gravenberch there later in the season.