**Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool future continues to be a big talking point, with reliable journalist Lewis Steele now providing the latest on the situation.**
The 26-year-old has been in improved form of late, following an awful spell earlier in the season, playing a part in the Reds’ improved performances and results.
Konate’s current Liverpool deal runs out at the end of this season, however, and there hasn’t yet been an agreement over a contract extension at Anfield.
According to an update from [_The Daily Mail_](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15419139/Liverpool-transfer-news-January-Semenyo-Guehi-defenders.html)‘s Steele, there hasn’t yet been a “breakthrough” regarding talks, suggesting a summer exit on a free transfer is still possible:
_“As of Thursday, Konate can talk to overseas clubs about joining them on a free transfer in the summer. No breakthrough has been found in talks over the Frenchman’s contract just yet.”_
**Will Konate sign a new Liverpool deal?**
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It remains to be seen what the future holds for Konate at Liverpool, with supporters likely to be more keen on him staying than they were a month or two ago, when the Frenchman was struggling so much for top form.
At 26, he is still potentially approaching the peak years of his career, with [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgndpn5nk5o) hailing his Reds centre-back partner in the past, saying of him:
_“He is a fantastic player who still can be better. As you saw, he is important with the goal, he is defensively solid, a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded, but obviously the qualities he has are outstanding in my opinion. He is learning, growing, getting better and looking after himself much better in order to be ready every three days as that’s what asked.”_
The best outcome is still for Konate to stay at Liverpool, but now is the time for him to kick on and show that he is consistent and mature enough to be the future leader of the defence after Van Dijk has gone.
He has all the tools to become world-class eventually, which is why losing him would be a shame, but equally, there are elite options out there who could come in as replacements.