Transfer Centre

'It's logical' - Key Liverpool man responds to exit reports

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 01 June 2024

Ibrahima Konate admits that transfer links with French champions Paris Saint-Germain are "logical" but insists that he is not looking to leave Liverpool.

A key Liverpool man has admitted that there is logic to rumours that he could depart the Reds in the near future but has insisted that he is not looking to leave any time soon.

Since making the move from RB Leipzig in 2021, Ibrahima Konate has slowly bumped Joel Matip down the pecking order to the point that the Frenchman will leave when his contract expires at the end of the month.

Injuries have not helped the Frenchman, who has also faced competition from Jarell Quansah in recent months, but he is generally Virgil van Dijk's first-choice centre-back partner when fully fit.

Konate - who is currently preparing for Euro 2024 with the France squad - still has two seasons left to run on his Reds deal, although he is yet to sign an extension since touching down on Merseyside three years ago.

In recent days, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have been heavily linked with a swoop for the 25-year-old, supposedly encouraged by the fact that Konate lost his starting place to Quansah towards the end of the season.

Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts after the match on November 5, 2023 © Reuters

Konate reaffirms Liverpool happiness despite PSG 'logic'

Konate was an unused substitute in each of Liverpool's last four Premier League matches under Jurgen Klopp, but he is expected to play a prominent rule under new head coach Arne Slot next term.

As a result, when questioned by RMC Sport about the possibility of leaving Liverpool for PSG, the 25-year-old poured cold water on such speculation, despite admitting that the links did make some sense.

"I'm happy at Liverpool so my head is there. I don't even think about it. I am focused on the pitch and the Euros this summer," the centre-back replied.

"It's a bit logical because I was born in France and in Paris. I have six older brothers and they all support PSG. We watched a lot of matches together and I went to the stadium a lot when I was younger.

"There is a little story with PSG but I made my own. I played at Sochaux, then Leipzig before Liverpool. I am happy there and I am not paying too much attention."

Konate reveals previous thoughts of playing for PSG

France and Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate pictured in June 2023 © Reuters

Nevertheless, Konate - who came through the youth systems of Paris FC and Sochaux in his homeland - conceded that he would be "lying" if the thought of representing PSG had never crossed his mind.

However, the centre-back affirmed that he is currently not considering swapping Anfield for the Parc des Princes, adding: "If I said no, I'd be lying, but if you're asking, is it one of my objectives. Not at all.

"PSG has made sure to recruit players who understand each other well and who play with each other for the France national team. Even for the people and the Parisian fans, it makes them happy. It's what they've been waiting for for years, having Parisian players or at least French players in the team."

Konate has scored three goals and set up two more in 90 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool, who paid £34.1m to bring him to the Premier League from the Bundesliga.

The 25-year-old started three games for France at the 2022 World Cup and will likely be called upon from the first whistle when Les Bleus open their Euro 2024 campaign against Austria on June 17.