Liverpool hope contract talks will STOP PSG signing Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool are reportedly in contract talks with Ibrahima Konate - talks that will hopefully prevent a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

L'Equipe reports that Liverpool are in ongoing talks with Ibrahima Konate over a new contract. The Frenchman has two years left to run on his deal - and teams are circling.

After all, this is the final year that Liverpool could demand a big fee for the defender. Next season, with only one year left, would dramatically weaken their bargaining position if Konate doesn't sign a new contract.

It might even be enough that if he doesn't sign a new deal, Liverpool feel a need to sell this summer. That's certainly the hope at other clubs, says L'Equipe's report, with Paris Saint-Germain hoping to snap Konate up.

PSG are in the market for a centre-back and see Konate as a natural, versatile option. He's even publicly talked about moving there.

“Could I imagine myself wearing the red and blue of PSG?" he told Canal Plus late last year. "If I said no, I’d be lying, but if you’re asking, is it one of my objectives? Not at all.”

So while Konate isn't going to push for the transfer, it's clearly one he's open to. If it comes to that.

Liverpool and Ibou Konate

Liverpool have apparently stepped-up the contract talks now that the season is done. It makes sense - they needed to have a manager and sporting director in place.

In fact, most contract talks have been on the backburner, including with Virgil van Dijk.

And that's an interesting one. Van Dijk and Konate have been the first-choice partnership over the last few years, even if the Frenchman did drop out for Jarell Quansah to end this season.

Van Dijk certainly rates Konate very highly, calling him an 'outstanding' defender during the season. Liverpool certainly won't want to lose both of them.

And that means some massive contract talks are underway this summer.