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Liverpool’s pursuit of Marc Guehi could hint at a possible exit for Ibrahima Konate.

That’s according to former Reds player Jermaine Pennant, who believes the club could be moving early to replace the fan favourite defender.

Troy Deeney loves Liverpool signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace

Konate is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield, leading to rumours of some big-name interest.

According to various reports, Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in the France international.

Talks over a possible extension are believed to be ongoing, but so far no agreement has been reached between Liverpool and one of their star defenders.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are hot favourites to sign Guehi, who looks to be on his way out of Crystal Palace.

Read more on Liverpool

The England international is also entering the final year of his contract and talkSPORT understands the 24-year-old has told his club he has no intention of signing a new deal.

That could force the Eagles to cash-in this summer rather than lose him for nothing, with Palace believed to be looking for a £50million transfer fee.

The Guehi links have left Liverpool supporters debating where he would fit into their team, particularly with Virgil van Dijk and Konate as Arne Slot’s clear first choice partnership at the back.

There have been suggestions it could hint at a possible switch of formation from Slot to a back-three - although many have questioned why the Dutchman would change things up so dramatically after winning the Premier League title.

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Ex-Liverpool winger Pennant has an alternative theory - that it might mean Liverpool know Konate is off and are already planning for his exit.

“If Liverpool are in for Marc Guehi, that signals to me that Konate is more on the side of leaving,” the Champions League finalist with the Reds told talkSPORT.

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Konate's long-term future at Liverpool is unclearCredit: Getty

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Liverpool are leading contenders to sign GuehiCredit: Getty

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Pennant can see Konate leaving Liverpool if the club brings in Guehi this summerCredit: talkSPORT

“I’m thinking, is this a situation like Real Madrid and Trent Alexander-Arnold, where Liverpool are saying to Guehi, ‘Just see your contract out and we will look after you’?

“Because Konate is in the same situation, he’s in the last year of his contract and they haven't agreed a deal. 

“So Liverpool might be saying to him, ‘Look, Konate's going to go at the end of this season, Marc Guehi, you see out your contract and come, join us for a free and we’re prepared to offer you this’.”

It’s been a busy summer so far for Liverpool, who are not resting on their laurels despite winning a second Premier League crown at a canter.

The Reds had already secured the futures of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in a huge boost before the end of the season.

They were forced to wave goodbye to boyhood star Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid upon the expiry of his deal with the Merseyside club, but immediately landed a replacement in Jeremie Frimpong.

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Liverpool have been busy this summer, with Wirtz becoming their new club-record signing at £116mCredit: Getty

That bargain £29.5m deal from Bayer Leverkusen was followed by breaking the British transfer record to sign one of Frimpong’s teammates, Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz.

Meanwhile, centre-back Jarrell Quansah is set to head in the opposite direction to join Leverkusen in a deal worth £30million.

Guehi could be heading to Anfield as an upgrade on Quansah, and would also be a top class replacement for Konate should the Frenchman depart.

Konate has already spoken out about his future, admitting he and the club are yet to come to an agreement over extending his stay at Anfield having turned down the offer of a new deal that was presented to him midway through the campaign.

"I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake,” he said in May in response to online speculation over a possible new deal with the Reds.

“I didn't even ask for something from the club.

They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.

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Konate's Premier League stats for the 2024/25 seasonCredit: talkSPORT/Opta

"The rest [speculation] that I want to wait until the end...

And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal.

I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?'

"It was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment.

Read More on talkSPORT

“I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. 

“We will see what will happen."


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