Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with an update on Ibrahima Konate's future at Anfield
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
An update has emerged about Ibrahima Konate's future at Liverpool as the club look to strengthen their central defensive options this week. The Reds have made seven new signings and are closing in on an eighth ahead of the return of Premier League football.
Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Geovanni Leoni from Parma this summer. The Reds are close to agreeing a deal worth £26million for the centre-back, who is expected to undergo a medical on Merseyside on Thursday ahead of a move to the reigning Premier League champions.
Once signed, Leoni will be expected to link up with Liverpool's first team this season rather than go on loan. The 18-year-old will join Virgil van Dijk, Konate and Joe Gomez as the senior central defensive options with the Reds for the campaign ahead.
Amid the talk of Liverpool signing a new centre-back, an update has emerged about Konate's future at Anfield.
The France international is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks.
Spanish news outlet AS is reporting that both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are showing an interest in signing Konate as a free agent next summer when his current contract is set to expire.
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Marca has also reported that Liverpool are determined to reach an agreement with Konate over a new contract to avoid losing the defender as a free agent.
It's not just Leoni that Liverpool could sign this summer. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is also a target for the Reds, and talks remain ongoing with the Eagles to reach an agreement to sign the England international, who is also out of contract next summer as things stand.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday night's clash with Bournemouth, Arne Slot gave an update on the progress of Leoni's move. He said: "(I can tell you) that the clubs have agreed a deal but he hasn’t signed for us yet. The moment when he signs for us, I can go into more detail.
"And the other one (Guehi) is of course the answer you always get from me.
"No, (I cannot go into more detail) because he is not our player and unfortunately he was the captain of the team where we lost against last Sunday.
"No, if you want to have any talks about him, you should go to Palace, to (Oliver) Glasner and ask him his opinion about him."
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