Overview

• Ibrahima Konaté is in the final year of his contract and can speak to overseas clubs from 1 January, with Real Madrid credited in Spain with interest in a potential free transfer.
• Spanish outlet Defensa Central claims Liverpool are confident of a renewal, but reporting via The Athletic says there is still no clarity and sources close to the player say he has not decided.
• Liverpool have compiled a seven-man shortlist for central defense featuring Marc Guehi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Murillo, Sven Botman, Dayot Upamecano, Castello Lukeba and Ronald Araújo.
• The club is exploring January cover after Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury and uneven defensive form, though several primary targets may be hard to prise mid-season.
• Football Espana reports, citing The Athletic via AS, that Liverpool plan to pursue Guehi as a free agent next summer, a stance complicated by FA rules limiting their talks to the final month as foreign clubs can approach from January.