Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has admitted that he has imagined himself playing for Paris Saint-Germain in the future.

The 24-year-old, a PSG fan who was born and raised in the French capital, began his youth career at Paris FC before moving to Sochaux where he made his professional debut in February 2017.

Konate caught the eye of RB Leipzig and joined the German club in the summer of 2017, making a total of 95 appearances over a four-year period.

The 6ft 4in centre-back then completed a £36m transfer to Liverpool in July 2021 and he has since established himself as a first-team regular for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Konate had played 64 times for Liverpool in all competitions and has started eight of his 11 appearances for the Reds so far this season.

He still has three years remaining on his contract at Anfield, but the defender has suggested that he would find it difficult to turn down a future move to Ligue 1 champions PSG if they came calling.

Asked whether he has ever envisaged himself wearing a PSG shirt during an interview with Canal Plus, Konate said: "If I said no, I'd be lying, but if you're asking, is it one of my objectives? Not at all."

Following the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar, Luis Enrique's PSG side has since taken a different approach to their transfer business and prioritised recruiting younger players predominantly from France in the summer.

Kylian Mbappe remains at the Parc des Princes, for now, amid reported uncertainty over his future, and the 24-year-old has been joined at the club by French quartet Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani, Lucas Hernandez and Bradley Barcola.

Konate, who plays alongside PSG's French contingent at international level, has praised the recruitment of the Ligue 1 champions and believes that their new approach to the transfer market has pleased the club's supporters.

"PSG has made sure to recruit players who understand each other well and who play with each other for the France national team," the 12-cap France international added.

"Even for the people and the Parisian fans, it makes them happy. It's what they've been waiting for years, having Parisian players or at least French players in the team."

Liverpool are understood to have no interest in parting ways with Konate, who is the youngest central defender among Klopp's senior options including 32-year-old duo Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, and 26-year-old Joe Gomez.

Konate played the full 90 minutes in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Luton Town in the Premier League on Sunday, with Luis Diaz netting a 95th-minute equaliser to rescue a point at Kenilworth Road. body check tags ::