It seems another big name could be walking out of the Anfield tunnel for good. Ibrahima Konate, one of Liverpool’s most trusted defenders, is now reportedly set to leave the club at the end of his current deal in 2026.
Konate has not agreed to a new contract. Talks have been held, but no deal has been reached. The French international is reportedly planning to see out the rest of his time at the club before exploring new options in Europe.
That’s a worry for Liverpool fans still recovering from the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. Now, another defensive pillar could be packing his bags, and this time, the exit might be completely free.
The 26-year-old joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021. Since then, he has made a strong name for himself, forming a solid pairing with Virgil van Dijk. He played a big part in Liverpool’s 2025 Premier League title run and has become a regular in the French national team.
But now, all signs point to the end of the road.
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Why Ibrahima Konate wants to leave Liverpool?
Ibrahima Konate current salary
Ibrahima Konate current salary
Liverpool were late to open serious talks. The club focused on renewing Mohamed Salah and van Dijk first. That pushed Konate’s situation to the background.
When they finally came to the table, Konaté’s camp wasn’t impressed. Reports (via Foot Mercato) say he felt the offer was too dependent on bonuses and targets, and he wanted a stronger basic wage. It didn’t help that he saw teammates getting better deals.
According to sources, Konate prefers a move to Real Madrid. He is also being tracked by PSG and Barcelona. And after watching Trent take the Spanish route, the idea of playing at the Bernabéu must sound tempting.
Konate could follow the same path — run down the contract and leave for free. It’s a classic case of “no fee, but all eyes on me.”
If Liverpool can’t convince him to stay, they risk losing a key defender for nothing. And let’s face it — for a club that values smart transfers, that would be a defensive error.
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