Liverpool 'table improved offer' to first-team star amid Real Madrid interest

Liverpool have tabled an improved contract offer to a first-team star in the hope of fending off interest from Real Madrid, according to a report.

The Reds have been extremely busy this summer, splashing out over £290million on the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez ahead of their Premier League title defence.

Anfield's chiefs have now reportedly turned their attention towards renewing Ibrahima Konate's contract, with the centre-back now having entered the final year of his five-year deal.

Konate, so far, has turned down Liverpool's contract extension offers - attracting the attention of Real Madrid who are in the market for a defender.

Eager not to allow Konate to run his contract down and leave on a free transfer next summer, Liverpool have tabled a new and improved bid in the hope of tying him down at Anfield, according to Foot Mercato.

On Wednesday, the Reds confirmed the £79m summer signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike, who is expected to join up with the squad in Hong Kong in the next 48 hours for training sessions.

The package is a £69m base fee plus £10m in add-ons which are based on team and player performance.

Liverpool have also been heavily active in terms of organising departures from the club, with several familiar faces leaving Anfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid, while Jarell Quansah signed for Bayer Leverkusen and Caoimhin Kelleher made the switch to Brentford.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has remained in the UK for now to finalise the Ekitike move and conduct all other transfer business, after Arne Slot's squad departed for the Far East on Sunday night.

Prior to flying out, the Reds beat Stoke 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors game at the AXA Training Base in Kirkby.

The champions played two different starting line-ups before and after half-time - and Wirtz got his first competitive action for the club following his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The likes of Frimpong, Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili also featured, having joined for £29.5m, £40m and £29m respectively.

Konate, meanwhile, came on as a substitute, with Joe Gomez partnering captain Virgil van Dijk from the start.

Darwin Nunez showed Ekitike the competition he will be up against at No 9 with a 14-minute hat-trick against the Potters, with Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa also getting on the scoresheet.

Liverpool will take on AC Milan in their next preseason friendly on Saturday.