Liverpool ready for ‘very exciting’ Bradley upgrade

That guidance will therefore be guided by Ibrahima Konate’s eventual departure from Liverpool when his £70,000-a-week contract expires this summer.

Adding depth and real quality is not just a priority for the Merseysiders, who must revamp their ailing backline in 2026 if they hope to compete for football’s biggest prizes in the coming years.

Conor Bradley’s recent season-ending injury has complicated matters, and FSG could be forced into winter action in the transfer market. This was something they didn’t want, but without some reinforcement Arne Slot could be sold short.

Liverpool are not completely exhausted after their spending spree last summer, but there is no doubt that they are a team lacking in depth, which is why plans are being made to sign a new right-back by the end of the month.

Liverpool plan Conor Bradley replacement

It was a tough night for Bradley. In the first half, his mid-range shot hit the bar, and in the final stages, he injured his knee and had to stop playing.

Jeremy Frimpong has returned from injury and is finding his groove, which is a big plus for the team in the slot, but with Joe Gomez the only natural replacement on the right wing, it’s clear that FSG must add depth before the winter market closes.

And while the American owners are unlikely to do anything in a hurry, they may be hoping to sign Feyenoord prospect Zivairo Reid. According to TEAMtalk, the 19-year-old has recently been tracked by the Anfield side, with Bayern Munich also interested.

Chelsea showed interest in the Amsterdam-born defender last season and were said to be willing to pay £25 million. Now that Reed is going from strength to strength in his home country, those numbers are bound to rise even higher.

Why Zivairo Reed is an upgrade to Bradley

Reid may be young, but he has already brought together a lot of quality, building a strong technical skillset and a reputation as a ‘warrior’, as talent scout Jacek Kulig pointed out in last season’s Champions League game against AC Milan.

A strong runner and creative as well, the teenager has shades of Bradley’s own ferocious style and could be a perfect fit for Liverpool and the perfect rival for the Northern Ireland international.

He covers a huge amount of ground, with SofaScore showing Reid has won 61% of his ground battles in the league this season, proving he has a natural defensive aptitude as a partner in flashy teams.

How he compares to Liverpool’s 22-year-old defender also shows how he has the ability to finally strip Bradley, a fan favorite on Merseyside but sadly injured and whose development could be negatively affected.

Liverpool will continue to have faith in Bradley and his potential to bounce back from this latest setback and continue to rise further in Slot’s squad, but there is no doubt that he cannot afford to take any more hits, especially if Liverpool sign Reid.

Reid, a “very exciting” up-and-coming defender who can “do just about anything,” as journalist Bence Boksack said, could eventually surpass Bradley and become the reigning Premier League champions’ mainstay.

Needless to say, playing in the Premier League is at a higher level than playing in the Dutch Eredivisie. It’s objective.

But Reid has all the tools to be a complete full-back in a team like Liverpool, and while Bradley is a promising player, his best ability, as they say, is immediate availability, and if he is brought to Anfield in 2026, Reid could find a niche to fit into.