EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool face battle to keep Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool are under threat from Paris Saint-Germain when it comes to Ibrahima Konate.

Last month, Anfield Watch revealed that Paris Saint-Germain are all-in on signing Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman's future hangs in the balance as it is and this adds a lot more pressure to the situation.

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Now, Paul Joyce of The Times has claimed Real Madrid have joined PSG in the race to sign the defensive behemouth.

The Frenchman is out of contract in 2026 and Liverpool are yet to agree on a new one. PSG plan to exploit this situation in the summer.

They're hoping to persuade Konate to move back to Paris, his home. The defender previously played at Paris FC, the 'other' Parisian team, before his transfer to RB Leipzig.

Now, no move is expected in January. PSG instead plan to push for the signing in the summer when Liverpool have little choice but to listen to offers.

Konate will be able to agree to a pre-contract with non-English teams this time in a year, after all. The Reds will see the summer as their final chance to secure a major transfer fee for him.

That's the situation PSG hope to exploit. Liverpool face pressure to sell - unless they can get a contract signed with Konate before then.

PSG want Konate

It's an easy one to put together, of course. Konate is Parisian, PSG want a new centre-back, and he's naturally available.

But it comes at an awkward time for Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk is out of contract this summer, while Joe Gomez nearly left the club in 2024 in a deal with Newcastle United.

Jarell Quansah has taken a step back this season, too, leaving Liverpool without an obvious future at centre-back. That's supposed to be Konate, of course.

That can only happen with a new contract, though, and this PSG news make that new contract a lot less likely. Liverpool face a real fight to get their way here.

And if they fail, it could leave their future plans in tatters.

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