‘Mbappe calls me every two hours’ – Liverpool star opens up on Real Madrid transfer interest

Liverpool contract insurgent Ibrahima Konate has joked that Kylian Mbappe calls him each two hours over a transfer to Actual Madrid.

The defender has entered the ultimate 12 months of his deal at Anfield and might signal a pre-contract settlement with abroad golf equipment in January.

The 26-year-old has established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s chief centre-back associate since becoming a member of from RB Leipzig in 2021.

Nonetheless, Konate is into the ultimate 12 months of the five-year deal he signed with the Reds and has attracted curiosity from elsewhere.

Paris Saint-Germain, Actual MadridBayern Munich and golf equipment in Saudi Arabia have all been touted as potential suitors for the Frenchman.

Konate tried to maintain his state of affairs tight-lipped on worldwide responsibility, however could not resist joking as soon as the subject of his future arose.

Throughout a sure/no sport on French TV, Téléfoot, presenter Séverine Parlakou requested: “The Spanish press is sending you to Actual Madrid subsequent season. Kylian Mbappé is placing a little bit of strain on you to return?”

“He calls me each two hours!”, the Liverpool star laughed in response, having additionally denied that he has already learnt Spanish.

For Arne Slot, although, Konate’s future isn’t any laughing matter, having already misplaced one key defender to the Spanish giants this summer season.

Liverpool could not hold maintain of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold after he equally rejected new offers to move to Madrid..

talkSPORT understands the Reds did financial institution £10million regardless of the right-back departing upon the expiration of his contract.

Konate, in the meantime, who has featured 136 occasions in all competitions since becoming a member of in 2021, may now comply with in his footsteps subsequent season.

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‘That tells me Konate’s leaving’

He’s a Premier League, FA Cup, Group Protect and two-time Carabao Cup winner with the Merseyside outfit.

Liverpool have already hinted at their succession plans for Konate, having focused central defenders closely this summer season.

“If Liverpool are in for Marc Guehi, that indicators to me that Konate is extra on the aspect of leaving,” Jermaine Pennant instructed talkSPORT.

“I’m considering, is that this a state of affairs like Actual Madrid and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the place Liverpool are saying to Guehi, ‘Simply see your contract out and we are going to take care of you’?

“As a result of Konate is in the identical state of affairs, he’s within the final 12 months of his contract and so they have not agreed a deal.

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“So Liverpool is perhaps saying to him, ‘Look, Konate’s going to go on the finish of this season, Marc Guehi, you see out your contract and are available, be a part of us for on a free and we’re ready to give you this’.”

Finally, the Premier League champions’ transfer for Crystal Palace captain Guehi fell by in an enormous twist on deadline day.

A deal sheet for a £35m swap to Liverpool had even been submitted, but the Eagles’ lack of substitute noticed the membership pull the plug.

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Liverpool may swap to a back-three

Slot’s males retain an curiosity in signing Guehi at a later date, whereas they did full a £26m switch for Giovanni Leoni.

The 18-year-old, who has already been named the inheritor to the Van Dijk throne, will take this season to mattress in with a higher position subsequent 12 months.

Discussing Leoni’s potential pathway at Anfield, Troy Deeney instructed talkSPORT: “He’ll play sufficient video games this 12 months to adapt and get used to residing in Liverpool and the pressures as a result of it’s a completely different strain, proper?

“However I believe subsequent 12 months, with [Ibrahima] Konate going, it is a seamless [transition]…I can see Liverpool taking part in three on the again.”