We can expect plenty of movement in the centre-back market this summer, with Liverpool set to be right at the heart of it pending an answer from Ibrahima Konate.
We’re in no man’s land when it comes to Liverpool transfer news.
With the winter window in the rearview mirror and three months of football to be played before the market opens again, a lot of the speculation needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.
But one aspect of transfers coming to the fore now is related to players whose contracts are entering the final months.
Pick the more underrated Liverpool legend – Roberto Firmino or Jordan Henderson?
Konate’s Liverpool future will be decided in the coming weeks, but if a move away is on the cards, a new suitor has emerged in Inter Milan.
Inter Milan ‘will try’ to sign Ibrahima Konate this summer
The leading contender to tempt Konate away from Anfield has long been Real Madrid, but another European giant looks to be the most interested.
A report from L’Interista claims Inter have long-admired the Frenchman, who ‘has always been in Inter’s orbit’. The same outlet claimed Inter looked to sign Konate in January, but that would have been detrimental to what Arne Slot’s side could achieve this season.
Ibrahima Konate challenges Lewis Hall for the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Newcastle United at Anfield.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
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If he is going in the summer, though, the Italians will come back in for him. They see the Liverpool defender as the ‘ideal candidate’ to rebuild their back line with.
FSG will be planning contingencies for the event in which Konate does leave, but one of their top targets to bring in has now fallen under the gaze of Liverpool’s eternal transfer foes.
Real Madrid focusing on Nico Schlotterbeck and Liverpool may need to worry
This transfer triangle is pretty hard to follow, but here’s my best attempt.
Liverpool would like to keep Konate, but would look at Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck as a viable alternative.
Madrid have both Konate and Schlotterbeck on their radar for the summer. A report from AS claims their interest in the Bundesliga star has ‘intensified’ in recent weeks.
Change my mind: Liverpool would be CRAZY to let Konate leave 😣
He is back to his best!
Ibrahima Konate battles with Brian Brobbey during Liverpool's Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stu Forster
Inter are hoping Madrid go after Schlotterbeck, giving themselves the best chance at getting Konate.
All this to say, there are a lot of moving parts with regard to those two high-profile names, but the current state of affairs puts Liverpool at risk of losing out on both players.
Hopefully, Konate puts pen to paper soon, shutting down Inter’s interest and easing our concerns.
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