As Liverpool come to the end of a very disappointing season, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the club.
Many supporters are openly calling for head coach Arne Slot to be relieved of his duties, and several key player’s futures are currently unknown.
Mo Salah and Andy Robertson, the current vice-captain, are confirmed to be leaving in the summer, but Ibrahima Konate is also into the final few weeks of his deal and the Frenchman could well leave for free too.
The Reds have begun contingency planning for if they do lose Konate, but a Premier League rival has thrown a spanner in the works.
Liverpool already have a new central defender, Jeremy Jacquet, joining the club this summer but additional reinforcements will be needed if Konate does depart.
Richard Hughes will no doubt have an extensive shortlist of viable options, but one name that has been repeatedly linked with a Merseyside move in recent weeks in Maxence Lacroix.
The Frenchman has impressed this season, and Crystal Palace are now preparing to offer him a bumper new deal to fend off interest from Liverpool.
That’s according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states that the South London club are looking to reward Lacroix’s good form with an improved deal that could see his wages doubled.
The 26-year-old has earned a place in France’s World Cup squad and his impressive campaign has made him a priority target for both Liverpool and Chelsea.
With his current deal running until 2029, Palace are under little pressure to sell Lacroix this summer, but getting the player to put pen to paper on a fresh deal would rule out any risk of him forcing a move.
If Liverpool can’t get their own French centre-half Konate to sign an extension, they may well turn to Lacroix as an alternative, so Palace will be keen to get any new contract agreed as soon as possible.
