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Liverpool are desperate to avoid another Trent Alexander-Arnold situation and will not want to lose any more players for free.

The Reds’ summer has been simply jaw-dropping so far and it shows no signs of slowing up, with both incomings and outgoings expected.

The latter seems to be the next port of call as many stars are linked with an exit, most prominently Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

Ibrahima Konate, however, is a contentious talking point this summer as the Frenchman is yet to sign a new contract, with his current deal expiring next year.

Real Madrid are said to be very keen and want to sign him on a free when the time comes, although rumours suggest they are not opposed to signing him for a cut price before the new season begins.

Konate’s head appears to be turned, but what those close to the player have been saying may suggest that he is yet to fully make up his mind.

Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

Losing Alexander-Arnold for virtually nothing this summer was a huge blow for the Reds, both on the pitch and reputation-wise.

With that being said, most fans would have thought that something like this will never happen again, although all the rumours indicate that it will with Konate.

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However, journalist David Lynch has revealed that people close to the 26-year-old say otherwise and that, actually, he is giving off the impression that he wants to sign a new deal at Anfield.

“Real Madrid are clearly interested aren’t they?

But speaking to people close to Konate, I still get the feeling that his priority is to renew with Liverpool and there are talks there, but it is kind of stuck at the moment,” Lynch said on the Sports Mole YouTube channel.

“I don’t think it has reached the point of no return and the player has definitely decided he wants to go to Real Madrid, I don’t get that feeling at all.

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“That’s not to say that it won’t end in that way because that possibility is 100 per cent on the table, but we are still in the moment where there is hope there will be a breakthrough.

“The player is not desperate to get out of Liverpool or desperate to go to Real Madrid, it’s not that kind of situation just yet, but they will have to put a contract on the table that is attractive to the player and, as of yet, that hasn’t happened.”

Although there are plenty of names being linked as a potential replacement, simply none of them are as good as Konate.

The Frenchman has firmly established himself as one of the division’s best centre-backs and has formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk, with these two key in Liverpool winning the league last season.

He is quick, strong and dominant, three traits that make him the perfect defender and suit Arne Slot’s system down to a tee.

Marc Guehi is also an excellent option and is someone the Reds should try and sign if Konate does want out, but at the moment, the club should try their absolute best and get him to commit his long-term future to Slot’s project.