Ibrahima Konate in talks with four clubs as Liverpool endgame nears

Liverpool are currently undergoing a transformation at centre-back.

The process was kicked off last summer when Giovanni Leoni arrived on a £26m deal from Parma. Although the 19-year-old is currently absent owing to an ACL injury it is expected that the Italian will go on to become a new defensive leader at Anfield.

Leoni will be joined in the ranks next summer by Jeremy Jacquet. The £62m defender will arrive from Rennes at the end of the season and comes on board with a burgeoning reputation as one of Europe’s finest young stoppers.

Others - such as Mor Talla Ndiaye, Noah Adekoya and Ifeanyi Ndukwe - will in time compete for a first-team berth at the Premier League champions once they serve their apprenticeships with Rob Page’s under-21s.

There has been a big effort to reduce the average age in the position - and one of the reasons for the centre-back overhaul is uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate.

Konate set to leave Liverpool

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and as things stand he will be LEAVING the club on a free transfer.

Liverpool have still got hopes of retaining their French international defender - but according to a report in TEAMtalk Richard Hughes has set an Easter deadline for negotiations over a new deal.

So far the club and Konate’s representatives have been unable to come to terms - and that has opened the door to European suitors.

Since January the defender has been permitted to speak to interested overseas clubs - putting Liverpool in a race against time for their own player.

Now it’s emerged via the same report that Konate has indeed availed of the opportunity to speak to heavyweight clubs on the continent.

Real, Barca, PSG and Bayern talking to Konate

“Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint‑Germain have all made contact as they position themselves for a potential free‑transfer battle,” the report reads.

“Offers are expected to land formally in the coming weeks, and Konate is keeping his options open as he weighs up the next phase of his career.”

Real have put Konate back on the menu despite initial misgivings over his form. Barcelona’s enquiry is more of a surprise as the hard-up Catalans are not likely to be able to finance a deal for a player looking for £200k per week and above.

PSG brought in Illia Zabarnyi last summer from Bournemouth but are also likely to be shopping for a new defender if Marquinhos departs.

And as for Bayern it’s believed that Dayot Upamecano is close to tying up a new contract in Bavaria and it remains to be seen whether the two international teammates will be united at club level at the Allianz Arena.

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