PSG 'ready to raid Liverpool' for £38m player who has hinted at transfer exit

PSG are reportedly sounding out the possibility of a summer swoop for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman has just ended his third season at Anfield with 37 appearances – eight more than in either of his first two injury-hit campaigns at the club – and PSG are interested in snatching him away.

Injuries are the only thing that have prevented Konate from becoming the unquestioned centre-back partner to Virgil van Dijk. He has proven himself one of the best defenders in the Premier League when fit.

And it is claimed Ligue 1 champions PSG think they have a potential opportunity to sign Konate this summer. The 25-year-old is about to enter the final two years of his current contract.

L’Equipe say PSG have reached out to the defender’s representatives via intermediaries. They made it known that they would be interested in signing him.

Konate was born in Paris and grew up in the city’s 11th arrondissement. And speaking to Canal Plus last year he hinted he’d welcome the chance to play for Les Parisiens in the future.

“Could I imagine myself wearing the red and blue of PSG? If I said no, I’d be lying,” he said. “But if you’re asking, is it one of my objectives? Not at all.” The report claims that right now, Konate remains happy at Liverpool.

Talks over a contract extension are ongoing with the Premier League giants said to be optimistic of concluding an agreement. Any new deal may have to wait until after Euro 2024 with Konate named in the 25-man France squad for the tournament in Germany.

PSG have not made a direct approach for the player but would be ready to pounce if he were to reciprocate any interest in a move.

But speaking back in February, Konate told Telefoot: “It’s clear that I want to stay [at Liverpool] a long time, it’s clear that I want to accomplish things. The most important thing to stay here is to set the bar high.”

Konate’s transfer valuation is £38million on Transfermarkt but in truth it would take far more than that to get him out of Liverpool this summer. The Reds paid RB Leipzig £36m when they signed him 2021.

And the Merseyside club, who have no intention of selling, would surely require double that or even more before even entertaining the idea of a bid. Konate is seen as a vital figure for new manager Arne Slot.

The Dutch manager could still be in the market for another defender though with Joel Matip leaving on a free transfer.

That leaves only Van Dijk, Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah as senior options at centre-half unless Sepp van den Berg or Rhys Williams impress in pre-season.