Ibrahima Konate transfer wish claim exposes unusual problem Liverpool must now avoid

Liverpool have spent much of the past two seasons defying convention. But as they maintain a second successive surprise Premier League title challenge, there's another more unwanted way in which the Reds are seemingly going against the grain.

Usually, when a squad has built upon one title charge by opening up a sizeable lead in their pursuit of becoming champions, it's a sign the core is very much in place that can compete for the top honours for several more years to come.

But for Liverpool, rather than being the start of a new era, the mood music would suggest that the end of a dynasty is now approaching.

Of course, that process has by definition already started with Jurgen Klopp having been replaced by Arne Slot as Reds boss last summer. However, rather than changes behind the scenes being replicated on the pitch, there has been only limited squad tinkering thus far.

Slot will undoubtedly want to now greater shape his squad having had a full season to determine the strengths and weaknesses of his players. While many Liverpool supporters roll their eyes at being told there is the prospect of a busy summer head in the transfer window, commonsense indicates such a judgement will not be misplaced this year.

Not, though, to the extent that is being indicated by the sheer number of Reds players being linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.

Ibrahima Konate on Friday became the latest such name when it was claimed the player is open to a move to hometown club Paris Saint-Germain.

The timing was particularly interesting given earlier in the day the latest edition of The Reds Roundtable was released on the official Liverpool club channels in which Konate spoke about his long-term future at Anfield.

"Honestly, to be in this club, this means a lot of things because I'm a part of this story of this club and I really hope this season and the seasons of the future we will do great things as well," said the centre-back. "I'm really happy to be here. It's just a dream."

Might rumours of interest be an early attempt by PSG to disrupt Liverpool ahead of an increasingly possible clash between the duo in the Champions League round of 16? Given the desire of some clubs to be like Real Madrid, it can't be entirely dismissed.

But the reality is Konate is approaching the last year of his contract. And with the France international still having not agreed to the offer of a new deal, potential suitors will be on high alert.

Liverpool, for their part, will not want a repeat of the situation of this campaign, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all, as it stands, set to leave on a free transfer in the summer. Talks remain ongoing with the trio, but the clock is now very much ticking. Salah and Van Dijk have intimated they want to stay, although Alexander-Arnold has remained silent on his future plans amid interest from Real Madrid.

It also means a decision will have to soon be made over Andy Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher, who like Konate will become free agents in less than 18 months. And, looking further ahead, a whole glut of players are out of contract in 2027 including Harvey Elliott, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker.

Which goes some way to explaining the sheer extent of players being readily linked with moves away from Liverpool during the next transfer window. In goal, the incoming arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili has prompted renewed question marks over Kelleher while Vitezslav Jaros is out of contract in a few months.

The futures of Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas are being questioned with Liverpool looking at renewing the left-back position - Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez is very much a player of interest - while at centre-back Gomez was close to joining Newcastle United last summer and is likely to again be in demand.

In midfield, Elliott was linked with Brighton and Borussia Dortmund last month, Wataru Endo is expected to attract attention and Tyler Morton is almost certain to depart. And up top, there was recently interest from, among other places, Saudi Arabia in Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz continues to be linked with a move to Spain while several Serie A clubs would happily take Federico Chiesa back to Italy.

They won't - and can't - all leave. But even if only a quarter of the proposed departures transpire, it suggests the Liverpool squad will have a very different look next season. The Slot dynasty is about to truly begin.