Reds' Real fears over Konate deal

LIVERPOOL'S fears that central defender Ibrahima Konate's head has been turned by Real Madrid are driving their bid to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi before the transfer window closes.

- Simon Mullock

In echoes of the season-long saga that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold run down his contract before decamping to the Bernabeu for a cut-price £8.5million ahead of the Club World Cup earlier this summer, the belief at Anfield is that Konate wants to follow the fullback to the Spanish capital when he becomes a free agent next summer.

Unlike Alexander-Arnold, however, the 26-year-old French international has suffered an alarming drop in form, prompting boss Arne Slot to make the signing of England star Guehi as much a priority as Newcastle's £150m-rated wantaway striker Alexander Isak.