Ibrahima Konate is hesitating to sign a new contract at Liverpool, prompting concern that the club may lose another key player after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid. Konate’s current deal enters its final year next month, and according to the Guardian, he has rejected Liverpool’s initial extension offer, which was heavily performance-based. The French defender’s camp is pushing for a higher base salary.
Contract talks with Konate were delayed last season as Liverpool prioritized extensions for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom signed two-year deals in April. Failure to reach a new agreement with Konate this summer could mirror the Alexander-Arnold situation, where Liverpool received only £10m for letting the right-back leave a month early, despite the right-back’s much higher market value.
Meanwhile, Andy Robertson is also entering the final year of his contract, with Liverpool open to selling him to Atletico Madrid if he wishes to leave. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has already departed for Brentford in an £18m deal.
Despite a strong start to the transfer window, including the £145.5m combined arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, the centre-back position remains unresolved. Liverpool plan to revisit talks with Konate later this summer but are firm on not exceeding their wage structure.
The Premier League champions are currently being linked with Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, and they could step up their interest soon if the situation with Konate remains unresolved.
