Ibrahima Konate's contract situation is worrying considering the outline of an offer was made some time ago, Liverpool transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Reds are first in the Premier League and they will return to action on Sunday at Turf Moor against Burnley, and they will hope to keep their second clean sheet of the season.
Virgil van Dijk and Konate were excellent in the backline when they beat Arsenal 1-0 on August 31, but while the latter was among the division's finest in 2024-25, his contract is set to expire at the end of 2025-26 as links to Real Madrid persist.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch expressed concern that the defender has not signed a deal despite the framework of one existing, saying: "It never looks good when the contract's not agreed yet and things are dragging on. An outlying contract has been there on the table for a little while, and that does make you nervous.
"It's not an ideal situation. I'm sure Liverpool are thinking that there's a real possibility that he does eventually go, but they'll be prepared for that outcome as much as they're prepared for him signing on the dotted line as well. A worrying situation, but not one where you can give any definitive answers yet."
Reports had suggested that an extension was close to being signed in November 2024, but there has been relatively little movement on a new deal since.
Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate pictured on March 9, 2025
Will Liverpool inevitably lose Ibrahima Konate to Real Madrid for free?
Liverpool sold Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid for a fee of £10m in the summer, but the club were forced into accepting a low fee as the right-back had just a month left on his contract.
Given that Konate has just a year left, there are concerns that history may be repeating itself, especially as Real have also signed the likes of Kylian Mbappe for free.
Despite the worrying nature of the centre-back's contract situation, Lynch insisted that the Frenchman has not yet decided his future, telling Sports Mole: "He may well end up going to Real Madrid, it's 100% a possibility because they clearly like the player and there's an interest there and he's going to be available on a free.
"But I don't think anything's decided. I know people want to get in there early to say that they were right, but you've got to wait until there's a genuine resolution. Liverpool are there and there have been talks - I don't get the impression yet that the player's completely turned his back on talks and wants to go on a free.
"You can't rule out that they'll [strike an agreement] because you've got to look at the Van Dijk and Salah situations that dragged on, and everybody said they were gone and then they weren't, so you've got to bear that in mind."
Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah only signed their contract extensions in April 2024, so perhaps Konate could sign a new deal towards the end of the campaign.
Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold on August 19, 2025
Why Konate's contract standoff is different to Trent Alexander-Arnold's
When Alexander-Arnold announced his intention to leave Anfield, he stated that part of his reasoning for making the move to Spain was to challenge himself in a different environment.
If Konate also wishes to play in a new setting, it is difficult to see the 26-year-old being persuaded to stay even if lucrative financial terms are offered.
However, Lynch claimed that the defender's hesitancy to sign a deal is more to do with how he is valued by Liverpool, when he told Sports Mole: "Trent wanted the experience and to try something different. His situation was a real drag because he knew what he was leaving behind, so it was a tough decision for him.
"It seems from what I'm hearing that [this delay] is a business decision, waiting for Liverpool to offer terms that he thinks are acceptable. If not, he'll look at what else is there. Maybe Real Madrid is one of the clubs that's willing to offer what he wants, so it's a negotiation that is based in the financials and how he feels valued by Liverpool.
"Liverpool have a red line that they won't cross in terms of what they want to pay him wage wise and that's where the disagreement is and why this one has dragged on. There can be a breakthrough, Liverpool can decide eventually they will cross that line and they will pay over a certain amount, and the player will then feel more valued and will want to stay."
Konate is thought to be earning significantly less than some of the Reds' top earners, and after an excellent 2024-25 season, it is no surprise that he would be demanding more to sign an extension.
> Click here to listen to the full discussion on Ibrahima Konate's contract situation at Liverpool amid links to Real Madrid
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