Ibrahima Konate fuels transfer speculation amid PSG and Real Madrid interest
The Reds star has fluttered his eyelashes after transfer interest.
Ibrahima Konate has not done much to end speculation of a Liverpool exit, amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old took time to establish himself in the Liverpool starting XI after joining from RB Leipzig in 2021 but has now cemented his place in the heart of the defence.
The France international has forged a partnership with Virgil van Dijk at centre-back that is proving very successful this season as the Reds challenge for the Premier League and Champions League, while also have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to.
The defender has been touted as a target for both PSG and Real Madrid and has not put a stop to the transfer talk when asked about it.
Konate told Telefoot: ‘To hear big clubs like that are showing interest in me is very flattering.
‘Now, I focus on this season to win everything and take the maximum of titles. For my contractual situation, I let my agents take care of it.’
The Frenchman is under contract at Anfield until 2026 and the club will not want to lose him, especially given the ongoing uncertainty over the futures of Van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are all out of contract this summer.
Konate has been linked with PSG for some time, with the defender admitting it is ‘logical’ as he is from Paris and his brothers are all fans of the club.
Speaking last year, he told RMC Sport: ‘It’s a bit logical because I was born in France and in Paris. I have six older brothers and they all support PSG. We watched a lot of matches together and I went to the stadium a lot when I was younger.
‘There is a little story with PSG but I made my own. I played at Sochaux, then Leipzig before Liverpool. I am happy there and I am not paying too much attention.’
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has spoken in glowing terms of Konate, saying he can still improve in one area, but clearly rates him extremely highly.
‘He’s already very good. He’s a centre-back who, without even touching the ball, is impressive because he is so strong and tall,’ the Dutchman said of Konate.
‘One of the things he could improve is his play with the ball, bringing the ball out from the back. I would not say he was poor in that but he could improve and go to another level.
‘He works really hard to improve that and I already see this improvement. Defensively, he is of the highest standard. He’s fast, he’s strong, he wins duels. He can cover for his team-mates as well if needed.
‘Defensively, there is not a lot he can improve. From all the ball possession we have, we would like to create even more chances than we are doing now and that starts from bringing the ball out from the back.’
