Overview

• ESPN reporting says Real Madrid are monitoring Ibrahima Konaté for a potential free move, though club figures are split on his suitability following William Saliba’s new Arsenal deal.
• Intermediaries have informed Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City that Konaté could be available next summer, with sources stressing the player is not actively pushing to leave.
• Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool’s August attempts to extend Konaté stalled and describes the talks as difficult, adding that Madrid have strong ties to the defender’s agents.
• Liverpool are assessing centre-back targets such as Marc Guéhi and Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo, with the long-term injury to Giovanni Leoni heightening the need for cover.
• Konaté is in the final year of his deal and can open pre-contract talks with foreign clubs from January, leaving Liverpool to choose between a winter sale, a renewed push to extend or risking a free exit next summer.