A lot of the media coverage around Liverpool thus far has been on the number of players they’re wanting to sign before the start of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Liverpool have dominated the headlines over the last few weeks with the deal for Florian Wirtz finally getting over the line on Friday.
Others, such as Milos Kerkez, are still awaiting their official announcement, but on the face of things, it’s hard to see that move falling through.
However, as well as buying and selling players, numerous members of Arne Slot’s squad have contracts that expire in the next 12 months.
And, if Liverpool want to avoid another Trent Alexander-Arnold situation, extension talks need to begin as soon as possible.
Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured at the England camp ahead of their international fixtures.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Ibrahima Konate’s future is one of the main things concerning fans at the moment, with Liverpool ECHO journalist Paul Gorst now sharing a fresh update on where it may lie.
Ibrahima Konate is expected to stay on at Liverpool despite recent rumours
One of the teams linked with an interest in Konate as a free agent next summer is Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso’s men have already prised Alexander-Arnold away from Anfield, so the last thing fans need is for Konate to be taken too.
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However, according to Gorst, the former RB Leipzig man is very “happy” at Liverpool.
“Konate I still expect, I don’t think he’ll leave this summer, I think Liverpool will look to take a little bit of a Van Dijk, Salah chance on tying him down during the season,” he said on the Redmen TV Podcast.
“He seems very happy and settled at Liverpool. He was speaking after the [Crystal] Palace game to us, which was his 25th or 26th birthday, and he was saying that talks had stepped up the previous week.
“He seemed quite positive over the developments there, so you know, let’s wait and see what happens.
“I can’t see him being sold now.”
Liverpool cannot lose Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer next season
Konate and Virgil van Dijk have managed to form a rather formidable partnership over the last few years, with the duo being ranked among the best in the Premier League last term.
They both put their all into every game they played and allowed Liverpool to become the Premier League champions after keeping out most of their opposition’s attacks.
Indeed, others such as Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansah filled in on the odd occasion, but with the latter of the two now leaving to join Bayer Leverkusen in a £35million deal, the Reds’ reliance on Van Dijk and Konate will grow even more.
Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool pose with the Premier League trophy at Anfield,
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The Frenchman is one of the best centre-backs in the league, and if there’s any chance that he could end up exiting on a free transfer, Slot must do everything in his power to get a decent fee for him now.
Otherwise, they could end up with another Alexander-Arnold-esque situation on their hands, which would be far from ideal.