Real Madrid, PSG Boosted as Liverpool’s £36M-Rated Ace Tipped for Summer Exit | OneFootball

With Milan Skriniar set to join Fenerbahçe SK, Paris Saint-Germain may be on the lookout for a new center-back when the summer transfer window opens. As Skriniar’s permanent departure nears, PSG will need to find a replacement.

ESPN reported last week that PSG are eyeing Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté for a summer move, with sources indicating that the French defender is open to returning to his hometown.

Konaté, who is contracted with Liverpool until 2026, remains a key target for the club despite PSG’s interest. He joined Liverpool in July 2021 for £36 million ($45.3 million) from RB Leipzig.

Journalist Romain Collet Gaudin confirmed the report, noting that Konaté and AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche are PSG’s top two summer targets.

PSG, Real Madrid receive transfer boost from former scout

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Former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown spoke with Football Insider and tipped Konaté to be a potential name that leaves Anfield this summer. A move later this year would happen if the Frenchman doesn’t reach an agreement with Liverpool over a contract extension.

“I’m hearing they’re not 100 percent happy with Konate,” Brown told Football Insider. “There are concerns that he’s always got a mistake in him and they could improve in that position. If somebody comes in with an offer for him which suits the club, they would be open to that.

“He’s done well this season, but he’s not the player they see as being a rock at the back for years to come. They’ve always got their hearts in their mouths a bit with him because he’s liable to make a clumsy challenge or get caught out and make an error. Eighty percent of the time, he’s a solid option, but it’s the 20 percent that worries them.

“So there is a feeling at Liverpool that if they could find a better option in the market, they would do. Whether that would be using the money from him and reinvesting it, or just going out with what they’ve got to improve on him, we’ll have to wait and see what they do.”

In an interview with Téléfoot, the French international defender shared his thoughts on the reported interest from both Ligue 1 leaders and reigning Champions League holders, Real Madrid.

“To hear big clubs like that are showing interest in me is very flattering!,” Konaté said (h/t Get French Football News). “Now I’m focussing on this season, giving it my all and I’ll let my agents take care of the rest.”

Recently, Get French Football News reported, citing sources, that reports linking Konaté (25) with a move to PSG are “completely unfounded.”