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It's claimed Liverpool is willing to listen to offers for Ibrahima Konate in the upcoming January transfer window.
As things stand, the 26-year-old defender will enter the final six months of his contract at Anfield after Christmas. He will be allowed to speak to overseas clubs about signing a pre-contract agreement from January, potentially completing a free transfer next summer.
There's still a chance Konate will sign a new long-term contract with Liverpool rather than seek a transfer away from Merseyside. The Frenchman was linked with a move to Real Madrid, but it's believed the Spanish team is no longer interested in signing him.
Yet, according to Football Insider, Liverpool is willing to sell Konate in January to avoid losing the defender on a free transfer next summer. It's claimed the Reds will accept an offer of around £15 million ($20 million) for the player.
It's believed that Bayern Munich and Manchester City are among those keeping an eye on Konate's situation at Anfield.
Central defense is a huge concern for Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk has struggled for form this season and will turn 35 next July, while Joe Gomez has managed just 251 appearances for the Reds during his 10-and-a-half-year spell at the club due to injuries.
Giovanni Leoni was signed during the summer, but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on his debut and won't play again this season. Konate's contractual situation has also been lingering over the Reds throughout the season.
Another issue has been Konate's woeful form this campaign. He was at fault for a crucial goal in Liverpool's 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and he needlessly gave away a penalty against Leeds in the 3-3 draw at the weekend.
Liverpool remains interested in signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, another player who is out of contract in the summer. The Reds tried to sign Guehi during the previous transfer window but saw the move collapse at the last minute.
Several teams are expected to make a move for Guehi next summer, so there's no guarantee Liverpool will sign the England international when he becomes available.
Konate has been a key player for Liverpool since joining the club from RB Leipzig during the summer of 2021. He's played 153 games for the Reds, helping them win the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, and two Carabao Cups.
Konate was also part of the team that reached the Champions League final in 2022, losing to Real Madrid in Paris. The defender's outstanding form for Liverpool helped him win his first senior cap for France in 2022, playing 26 times for his country since.
He was even part of the France squad that reached the World Cup final in 2022, losing on penalties to Argentina. Konate is expected to be part of France's team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
Yet there are no guarantees the Liverpool defender will be called up by France boss Didier Deschamps. Konate will need to improve his form and perhaps resolve his long-term future if he's to make his country's squad for the biggest tournament in soccer.
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