KON'S REAL DECLINE FUELS GUEHI GIDDY UP

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

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

Echoing the season-long saga that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold run down his contract before decamping to the Bernabeu for just £8.5million this summer, the belief at Anfield is that Konate wants to follow suit.

He becomes a free agent next summer, but unlike Alexander-Arnold, the 26-year-old French international has suffered an alarming drop in form.

That's prompted Reds boss Arne Slot to make landing England star Guehi as much a priority as landing Newcastle's £150million-rated wantaway striker Alexander Isak before tomorrow night's transfer window deadline.