Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool? Ibrahima Konate responds to rumours

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has directly responded to talk that Kylian Mbappe could join the club in 2024. It doesn't exactly sound likely.

Talk that Liverpool are in the market for Kylian Mbappe refuses to go away. Logically, it's a transfer that just doesn't add up - the finances aren't there for the Reds, while they've literally never signed a player of his stature.

And yet, talk was revitalised this week as Mbappe confirmed to Paris Saint-Germain that he's leaving later this year. His contract is up and there won't be a new one - someone is getting arguably the world's best player for free.

Of course, Real Madrid are favourites. Mbappe dreamed of playing there as a kid and Real have made absolutely no secret of their desire to sign him. But it's also one that isn't straightforward - Los Blancos have lowered their offer, and Mbappe isn't impressed.

Mbappe supposedly contacted Liverpool last year (or at least, his people did) in order to gauge their actual interest. That's the claim from the Independent, though the Reds responded by saying they couldn't afford him.

There have been suggestions that Liverpool's 'interest' is actually drummed up by Mbappe's people in order to create competition for Real. That increases the player's negotiating power and it makes sense - especially as just about everyone expects him to eventually land in Madrid.

That's certainly what Ibrahima Konate suggested after Liverpool's 4-1 win vs Brentford. He was asked by Canal+ where he saw Mbappe moving to Anfield.

"Do you really think he's going to come here?" he laughed. "I think we all know where he's going to go."

We almost certainly do. Mbappe is firmly up for grabs and the club of his dreams want him. Liverpool may be there in case Real pull out of a deal but until that, their chances feel about zero.