Arsenal have been urged to keep an eye on Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation at Liverpool with a view to potentially signing him on a free transfer.
The Reds centre-half has grown in stature over the course of the last few years and is now firmly established as Virgil van Dijk’s central defensive partner.
Konate’s current deal, however, expires next summer and the 26-year-old is said to have been disappointed with the terms offered during negotiations over an extension.
Real Madrid are understood to be watching his situation carefully, but Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn insists the Gunners should be in the mix if the France international were to become available.
Mikel Arteta’s has an abundance of riches when it comes to defenders even before the likely arrival of Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera.
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Indeed, although Winterburn is a keen admirer of Konate’s he struggles to see where the former Red Bull Leipzig defender would fit in at present.
The Ibrahima Konate situation at Liverpool will be one to keep an eye on for Arsenal, he’s a strong Premier League player,’ Winterburn told BetVictor.
Having said that, it would be about when he becomes available and where he fits into the team with William Saliba and Gabriel.
Modern players are more accepting of rotation, which was not the case in my day, but they will want to see their way into the team if they are to join.
Arsenal have got options in that position but we don’t know what the future holds, so it’s one to keep an eye on.
Arsenal fans, meanwhile, are craving a new centre forward with the choice likely to boil down to one of either Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko.
The Sweden international has enjoyed two years of almost uninterrupted goalscoring exploits for Sporting Lisbon but is currently locked in a bitter dispute with the Portuguese club
What has Ibrahima Konate said about his future at Liverpool?
‘I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake.
‘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.
‘The rest [speculation] that I want to wait until the end… I want this, all of it is completely fake. 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.
‘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.’
Ibrahima Konate addressing speculation over contract talks last month.
Should he move to north London, Winterburn has warned the 27-year-old he is likely to find the Premier League a far tougher environment in which to thrive.
He said: ‘What Arsenal need is a clinical striker and someone who can take chances in tight games.
‘Arsenal were not as good going forward last season as the two seasons before that, but they still create a lot of chances and just need the right striker to take them.
‘When Arsenal have a fully fit team then creating chances won’t be a problem, they need someone to make the difference and hopefully Viktor Gyokeres is that player.
‘What I will say is that although it’s good to be excited, whatever Gyokeres has done as Sporting will be irrelevant as soon as he joins Arsenal.
‘You are going to be judged on what you do in an Arsenal shirt and not what you have done at any other club, he is going to need to prove he can make a difference in the big games to win fans over.’