Ibrahima Konate has challenged Liverpool's recruitment team to get it right this summer transfer window, saying the squad cannot begin next season "understaffed and lacking quality".
The Reds have so far added Alexis Mac Allister to a squad that lost James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino at the end of last season and more incomings are expected following the official opening of the window on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are continuing to assess the options as Liverpool go about restructuring a midfield department that also lost Arthur Melo following the conclusion of his loan spell and the deal for Mac Alliston, who joined from Brighton last week for a fee believed to be around the £35m mark, represents astute business for a 24-year-old World Cup winner with ample Premier League experience.
Konate, though, believes significantly more is needed and in an interview with RMC while on international duty for France, the Liverpool defender admits it is a vitally important period for those tasked with bringing in the necessary quality following the club's lowest finish since 2016.
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"Of course, I think everyone knows that [the squad needs rejuvenating]," Konate said. "I think the coach and those who are in charge of recruitment know that we need new players.
"I think we have four players leaving this season: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, James Milner and Firmino. We have to replace them. If we don't replace them, how do we do it? Are we understaffed and lacking quality? You can't play with young people at that level.
"We had a rather complicated start to the season. Afterwards, as we have seen over the last two months, we have a certain pressure, we have really remobilised. We said to ourselves: 'But our goal is the Champions League.'
"And when you look at our last 10 or 11 games, there are 10 wins I think (seven from nine). It's us, it's the players. At one point, we screwed up on the season. But it happens to have seasons like that, we are lucky to have our supporters who are always behind us.
"The season is over, we must not think about it again. You have to remember the mistakes you made and think about next year. I'm sure it's going to be a very good season."
Despite missing out on Champions League football for the first time since 2016, Konate does not believe the coming campaign should be viewed as a transitional one for what is expected to be something of a new-look squad.
Konate added: "A transition season? No, not at all. Even if there is no Champions League, it does not matter. We will play the Europa League and we have the Premier League, which is the highest league in the world."
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