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Liverpool’s summer activity is already starting to take shape ahead of the season’s end.

The Reds still have plenty of work to do to get their Premier League title over the line, starting with a big game against West Ham on Sunday.

But although full focus must remain on the pitch for Liverpool, there is clearly activity happening behind the scenes, too.

The wheels are starting to turn on what is all set up to be a big summer for Richard Hughes at Anfield.

The sporting director is finally set to earn his corn.

The good news is that Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are set to stay.

That at least means Hughes and co do not have to sink energy into finding replacements for two of the best players in Liverpool history.

Nevertheless, after David Ornstein confirmed Liverpool are targeting Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, it does look as though another key Reds star could be switched out.

Photo by Steven Halliwell | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In the wake of Van Dijk and Salah being on the verge of signing new contracts, there should be hope that Konate’s new deal is not far away either.

However, given his £50m release clause, if Huijsen is to be signed, he would perhaps expect to be a regular starter, too.

There is not really room for Van Dijk and Konate as well as Huijsen.

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And although Liverpool fans were happy with Ornstein’s Huijsen update on Thursday, there was an interesting comment from the journalist which was perhaps missed in the excitement.

“Maybe their consideration [in Huijsen] is influenced by the lack of developments so far on Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation,” Ornstein said during a fan Q&A with The Athletic.

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“You imagine Huijsen would have a good chance of starting alongside Virgil van Dijk if he was signed.”

Liverpool may well see Huijsen as the long-term Van Dijk successor, but with the Dutchman here for two years or more, where does that now leave Konate?

Of course, there is a scenario where Liverpool have informed Huijsen that he would be coming as a back-up initially and if the 19-year-old has accepted that, then happy days.

There is speculation over both Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez and Huijsen would perhaps be an upgrade on either player for the time being.

When the time comes, he can then swap Van Dijk out either gradually or completely in 2027.

Huijsen could of course end up elsewhere as well, Liverpool are far from the only club interested in the Spaniard.

Let’s hope a breakthrough is made in contract talks soon, with Liverpool’s interest in Huijsen purely future-proofing, rather than an immediate necessity.
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