10 versatile defenders who can solve Andoni Iraola's 'very thin' Liverpool problem

The new Liverpool head coach admitted the Reds are "trying to find a solution" for their squad depth at right-back and centre-back

Liverpool have a glaring hole in their squad - and it isn't up front. Much has been made of Liverpool's need to replace Mohamed Salah and introduce versatile attacking players who can offer more dynamism than what was on display last season, but the Reds arguably have even more of a problem further back.

Andoni Iraola admitted as much on Monday (July 20), when he gave his second press conference and the first of Liverpool's summer 2026 pre-season tour of the USA.

"I think it depends on Conor [Bradley]'s situation," Iraola told reporters after being asked if Liverpool would sign a new right-back. "At the end if you have a fully fit, healthy Conor Bradley, we are very happy, ready to go and we would not be asking ourselves these questions.

"I think it's a situation that is tricky, because we trust Conor in the long term, we know we want him to be our right-back but right now he is still, I would say, a little bit far from returning.

"So, with the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now so I think it's a solution that we are trying to find, yes."

Iraola's choice of words might have given away the type of player Liverpool are likely to pursue. The Reds are also light in the centre of defence - even more so after the departure of Ibrahima Konate - and 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet looks likeliest to start alongside Virgil van Dijk at St James' Park on the opening day of the Premier League season, despite making just 57 senior appearances to date.

Anfield great John Barnes even named defence as the area he'd like to see Liverpool invest in most in a recent interview with Betfred, after being asked for his thoughts on the potential signing of PSG winger Bradley Barcola.

"Well, [signing Barcola] could get me excited," Barnes said, "but I don't believe that creating chances and scoring goals is our problem. Looking at the defence and midfield, we've not been protecting our back four or defending particularly well.

"If we were looking to sign a defender or defensive midfielder, I'd be more excited."

Judging by Iraola's comments, Liverpool might just be hoping Barnes gets his wish. But how hard a solution to find is it likely to be? We've picked out 10 players who can cover both right-back and centre-back who Liverpool could target ahead of the new season.

Josh Acheampong, 20 (Chelsea, £25m)

Chelsea rejected multiple offers for young defender Josh Acheampong earlier in the summer (BBC Sport), but they may yet be forced to reconsider their stance - something which would open up an ideal opportunity for Liverpool.

It speaks to Acheampong's exciting potential that he was branded "untouchable" at Chelsea despite starting just eight Premier League games last season, but a lack of assurances over first-team football has left his representatives with "questions" still unanswered.

Acheampong is a front-footed defender (1.49 interceptions per 90) , comfortable on the ball (92.1% pass completion) and happy carrying it forward (1.49 successful dribbles per 90) , though there is room for improvement in his aerial duels (61.1% aerial duel success rate) .

Some weaknesses are to be expected in such a young player but Acheampong has shown he has the composure and versatility to do a job for Liverpool in the short term, while having plenty of upside for the long term.

Arsenal, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and, most recently, Manchester United have all been linked with interest in the England U-21 international, who played 10 times at centre-back and 19 on the right of Chelsea's defence last season but is considered a long-term central defender.

Acheampong would need to be registered as part of Liverpool's 25-man squad for the Champions League but would count as an association-trained homegrown player, while his age would allow him to be registered as a 'free' U-21 player for domestic competitions.

Previous reports suggested Chelsea value Acheampong at £25m - though their clear admiration for him means it would likely take a concerted push from the player's camp for Xabi Alonso's side to agree to a transfer away.

Verdict: This doesn't look like an easy deal to pull off but, if Liverpool are prepared to be patient, an opportunity could materialise later in the summer if Acheampong doesn't get the playing-time assurances he's looking for at Chelsea.

Nnamdi Collins, 22 (Eintracht Frankfurt, £34m)

Liverpool were linked with Nnamdi Collins back in March and the Eintracht Frankfurt defender hasn't exactly played down his ambitions of playing in the Premier League.

Speaking last September, Collins name-checked Liverpool as a club he'd like to play for if he made the switch from Germany to England, and the former Borussia Dortmund player changed his agency earlier this year (Sky Sport Germany) with the ambition of leaving his current club in the summer transfer window.

That looks complicated now, though. With the departures of Rasmus Kristensen, Nathaniel Brown and Aurele Amenda, Eintracht are actively looking to sign defenders rather than let any more depart, and the club's sporting director is now said to have "personally decided" that Collins is going nowhere this summer (Sport).

Still, the report also states that Eintracht can't consider any player "unsellable" given the need to generate funds after missing out on European qualification - so Liverpool would still be in a good position to test the Bundesliga side's resolve.

Collins' versatility - he has also played at left-back as well as right-back and centre-back - is the major selling point, but he is also a strong ball-winner (2.95 tackles per 90) and possesses a good passing range (3.01 accurate long balls per 90).

Winning just 57.6% of his aerial duels could be cause for concern in the Premier League, but standing at 6'3" this should be an aspect of his game that Collins can improve with training.

A price tag of £34m was previously cited for the 22-year-old, which would represent a reasonable fee for Liverpool to pay in an inflated market.

Verdict: Eintracht need funds, but they also need bodies. Which takes precedence remains to be seen. Collins has seemingly set his heart on a move in the near future and would be open to joining Liverpool, so signing him could be achievable.

Guela Doue, 23 (Strasbourg, £40m)

Desire Doue's brother has been linked with Everton rather than Liverpool this summer, but there is plenty of reason to believe the Ivorian international will be on the Reds' radar too.

We already explained the attributes that would make Guela Doue an ideal addition for the right-back slot in our transfers assessed series earlier in the summer, but he is the only player from that list who also possesses the defensive instincts and physicality to thrive as a centre-back too.

Despite being a defensive-minded full-back (8.25 defensive contributions per 90) who is strong in the air (63.7% aerial duel success rate), Doue also possesses a wicked cross (32.7% crossing accuracy) that could offer Liverpool another dimension to their attack.

A fee as low as £21m was mooted recently amid interest from Inter, which would be a real bargain, but previous figures cited stretch up to £40m for the Strasbourg man.

It's reasonable to expect that the French side could ask for a figure closer to the upper limit of that range if approached by a Premier League club like Liverpool, but there's no getting around the fact that the 23-year-old would still offer greater value and upside at that price point than some of the more high-profile players further down this list.

Plus, reuniting with Guela after leaving Rennes for separate clubs in 2024 could be an enticing prospect for younger brother Desire if he fancies leaving PSG in future!

Verdict: This transfer looks affordable and achievable and Liverpool should act fast to avoid another club stealing a march. Doue is a player who would offer defensive stability first and foremost - an important consideration when bedding in young central defenders Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni - but enough attacking output to make him the standout realistic candidate on this list.

Lutsharel Geertruida, 26 (RB Leipzig, £17m)

Liverpool scoped out the signing of Lutsharel Geertruida amid an injury crisis back in January, but the deal was abandoned when it became clear that reaching an agreement with both Sunderland and RB Leipzig was unrealistic with just hours remaining in the window.

Being Arne Slot's most-used player in his managerial career to date (127 appearances under the Dutchman at Feyenoord), Geertruida was an obvious solution at the time given he is equally comfortable defending wide or centrally - but there has been nothing to suggest that Liverpool are planning to revisit the signing after Slot's dismissal.

If there were to be a return for Geertruida, it would likely only be a stop-gap solution, and perhaps another loan. Though the 26-year-old made 35 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig in his debut season, he was widely viewed as a flop and criticised as the Red Bull-owned club failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Though Geertruida was popular at Sunderland, the Black Cats opted to sign 34-year-old Thomas Meunier this summer rather than activate their £17m purchase option with Leipzig, which says plenty.

Despite playing an equal number of games at right-back and centre-back last season, Geertruida didn't offer a great deal of attacking threat (0.43 chances created per 90) or defensive muscle (46.2% aerial duels won).

Instead, he was more of a nifty tackler (1.98 tackles per 90) and a solid, reliable player at bringing the ball out from the back (58.3% dribble success rate, dispossessed 0.16 times per 90).

He isn't a bad player, but it's hard to see him getting that many minutes at Liverpool when all other options are fit and ready to go.

Verdict: Definitely gettable - Leipzig already agreed a fee that would have seen them break even on Geertruida - but barring another loan when all other options have been exhausted, it's hard to see why Liverpool would opt for this player over others available.

James Hill, 24 (Bournemouth, £40m)

A player Iraola already knows and trusts, James Hill took a while to earn his place at Bournemouth but stepped up to become one of the most dependable defenders in the Premier League last season.

Over 29 league appearances including three at right-back last season, Hill was everywhere, making 11.16 defensive contributions per 90 and winning 65.5% of his aerial duels as well as 63.8% of his duels overall.

No central defender won more aerial duels per 90 in the league than Hill (4.88), while he also showcased an ability to use the ball progressively in the manner Iraola demands from his centre-backs, creating an impressive 0.56 chances per 90.

Hill's rise came just a little too late to force himself into Thomas Tuchel's plans for the World Cup but, at 24, Hill has his best years ahead of him and is in a strong position to be a future regular starter at international level for England.

Centre-back is definitely Hill's best position, which is a good thing for Liverpool given Iraola has earmarked Bradley as the long-term first-choice at right-back.

But despite a breakout season, there has been next to no noise around Hill and as Bournemouth look to hang onto their best players this summer, new Cherries manager Marco Rose recently named him a "crucial player" for the club going forward (Bournemouth Echo).

Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid for £50m and Illia Zabarnyi PSG for £57m, so £40m would likely be the absolute bare minimum to get Bournemouth to the negotiating table - and even that looks difficult this summer.

If, somehow, Liverpool could secure Hill for anything less than an exorbitant fee, he would fill a homegrown slot in the Reds' domestic and European squads, allowing for greater flexibility in terms of the other players Liverpool can bring in before the window closes.

Verdict: The lack of rumours around Hill despite a fantastic season suggests the player is focused on continuing to improve on the south coast, where his guaranteed importance at Bournemouth will make any transfer this summer incredibly difficult to pull off.

Ezri Konsa, 28 (Aston Villa, £60m)

Former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer recently named Konsa as an ideal signing for Liverpool, with there already being a strong argument for Liverpool to sign a more experienced, ready-made defender to ease the inevitable transition when van Dijk ultimately calls time on his career at Anfield.

Konsa is no van Dijk but he is Villa's vice captain and the more senior partner alongside Marc Guehi in England's regular centre-back pairing, possessing leadership qualities which Liverpool could do with prioritising.

What he lacks in aerial ability (standing at 6'0" and winning only 57.1% of his aerial duels last season), Konsa makes up for in composure. He was dribbled past just 0.12 times per 90 last season - less than half as often as Konate - and only committed a third as many fouls (0.33 per 90), as well as completing 95.5% of his passes.

Konsa is also deceptively quick, clocking a top speed of 32.76km/h in European qualifiers last November. Coupled with a a 67.1% duel success rate, this makes him a solid option as a wide defender, and he played there 11 times during the 2024/25 season.

But he is certainly no attacking full-back, creating just 0.18 chances per 90 in the Champions League that season - the competition in which he played the majority of his minutes spent at right-back.

Konsa would be an adequate option to fill in in that position, especially in games where a strong one-v-one defender is required, but for the sort of money Villa would surely demand it would make little sense not to bring him in as first-choice in central defence.

With two years remaining on Konsa's contract, Arsenal are looking to do just that in the injury absence of William Saliba (Sky Sports), and - despite Konsa being a boyhood Spurs fan - a move to the red half of north London would make more sense given Mikel Arteta's proclivity to play four centre-backs in most matches.

Verdict: The Reds have a need that Konsa could address and the player could move on this summer, but Liverpool doesn't feel like the best fit for his skills long-term and the fee would likely be very high.

Jules Kounde, 27 (Barcelona, £51m)

Jules Kounde is definitely the option who is most natural switching between centre-back and full-back, and Spanish (Sport) and English (CaughtOffside) reports earlier in the summer were in agreement that Barcelona could let the French international leave - even for as little as £51m.

The theory went that Barca were looking to go back to their more typical brand of attacking right-back, and Kounde represented a player with plenty of sell-on value that could allow them to reinvest in their squad.

Only trouble is, this would require the player to be open to a move, and reports have so far suggested he isn't (El Nacional). Kounde's mooted replacement, Pedro Porro, has also recently signed a new contract at Spurs.

If Liverpool could get their hands on Kounde, though, they would be signing a player who can thrive in a possession-focused team (98.84 touches per 90, 91.6% passes successful) and can contribute going forwards (30.0% crosses accurate, 60.0% dribbles successful), despite becoming a household name in Spain as a centre-back for Sevilla.

In a relatively poor season at Barcelona last time out, Kounde still won 56.5% of his aerial duels and 54.5% of his overall duels, also showing a tenacious side with 0.52 shots blocked per 90.

The potential downside of signing Kounde would be encountering the same problem Hansi Flick has faced - that he doesn't post absolutely elite numbers as either a centre-back or a full-back, leaving his long-term position still in doubt four years after signing for the Catalan side.

Nevertheless, he would almost certainly represent an upgrade on the options Liverpool currently have in both positions. If Kounde does decide he's open to a move, the Reds should be banging the door down for that price.

Verdict: Kounde would be an ideal signing given the need to prioritise flexibility, especially for the price cited, but a deal would rely on a number of factors falling into place that don't currently look like happening.

Nordi Mukiele, 28 (Sunderland, £24m)

Another contributor to Sunderland's surprise seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Mukiele played exactly 16 games at centre-back and 16 at right-back in the league for the Black Cats in what was his debut season on Wearside.

At 28 years old, there is unlikely to be much more development to his game, but Mukiele has already shown both defensive resolve (8.88 defensive contributions per 90) and attacking threat (0.23 big chances created per 90) for Sunderland.

He thrived especially in one-v-ones, only being dribbled past 0.45 times per 90 - a respectable figure for a centre-back, but an excellent one a player who spent half the season as a full-back.

His duel numbers are below the elite level, winning 59.8% of his aerial duels and 58.3% of his duels overall, but they are comparable to those of Joe Gomez - the player he would ultimately be expected to fully replace in the squad given the long-serving former Charlton man is in the final year of his contract.

Many of the players on this list have Premier League experience, but Mukiele can boast having played a part in the fourth-meanest defence in the league last season and would undoubtedly earn Sunderland a sizeable profit on their £12m investment if he were to move on.

Doubling their money would still mean a near-negligible outlay for Liverpool, so it would certainly be worth exploring Mukiele's availability as the Reds look for a solution.

Verdict: Mukiele would bring experience, versatility and character to Liverpool at an affordable price point. Though he ultimately failed to make the grade at PSG or Bayer Leverkusen, his one season in the Premier League to date has shown he has plenty to offer in English football and he should be on the shortlist.

Jarell Quansah, 23 (Bayer Leverkusen, £69.3m)

The most expensive option on this list, ironically, is Jarell Quansah, who Liverpool allowed to leave a year ago after he lost his place in the starting XI when Slot reinstated Konate as first-choice.

Quansah has recovered from that blow to his confidence since joining Leverkusen, though, and posted van Dijk-esque numbers last season in only being dribbled past 0.08 times per 90 in the Bundesliga - less than once every twelve games.

On the ball, Quansah is a progressive centre-half in the mould of Joel Matip, creating 0.43 chances and completing 0.55 dribbles per 90, also popping up with four goals last season.

His duel numbers (60.3% aerial duel success rate, 59.9% duel success overall) haven't yet reflected the excellent levels he achieved in his breakout season at Liverpool - 2023/24 - but at 23, Quansah is only going to get better and would, of course, be eligible as a club-trained homegrown player for registration purposes.

Despite a sending off against Mexico at the World Cup, Quansah was solid over 200 minutes as a right-back - a position he played under Slot at Liverpool - completing both of his attempted dribbles and winning 70.0% of his duels, including seven of his eight aerial duels.

The sticking point is the fee. Leverkusen would surely ask for the full buy-back amount if Liverpool were to ask for Quansah back this summer, meaning the Reds would make a £35m loss after leaving themselves short without the Warrington man last season - though that clause will drop to £52m next summer.

Verdict: Liverpool should have never let Quansah leave, and he will surely return next year if he continues to impress in Germany. His long-term role is as a centre-back, though, and it makes little economic sense to bring him back at this point to fill in at right-back when a no-fuss deal next summer is the most sensible option all round.

Illia Zabarnyi, 23 (PSG, £60m)

It is hardly Illia Zabarnyi's fault that he has found game time so hard to come by in the biggest of matches since joining PSG from Bournemouth for £58m last summer, but the reality is that the 58-cap Ukrainian international only featured for 15 minutes in the knockout stages as Luis Enrique's side forged their way towards a second European Cup.

Now, calling him a versatile defender is a bit of a stretch given Transfermarkt list only one recorded game in which the 23-year-old started at right-back - that coming against Lorient in Ligue 1 back in October - but Zabarnyi is reasonably quick, clocking 32.3km/h in the Champions League last season, and was only dribbled past 0.15 times per 90 in Ligue 1, showcasing good one-v-one defending.

The reason he is included is that PSG could be open to a sale, with Zabarnyi unhappy with his level of involvement, and reliable freelance Liverpool journalist David Lynch recently refused to rule out the possibility of a move given the existing relationship between the player and Iraola (Anfield Index).

Zabarnyi is a good ball-playing defender (94.5% passes successful) with a good passing range (3.13 accurate long balls per 90), and posted reasonably strong duel numbers in his final season in the Premier League (63.6% aerial duel success, 62.8% duel success overall).

But whether he is the ideal fit for Liverpool at this precise moment is questionable. Zabarnyi certainly has the class on the ball to start games at centre-back for the Reds, but his defensive numbers do not stand out above more affordable options and he is unproven as a right-back.

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