Liverpool have made what they believe to be a “very good offer” to Ibrahima Konate as they look to extend his contract beyond the end of the season, according to reports.
TEAMtalk claim that the Reds are confident that the defender isn’t close to signing for another team, and they are aware that the player has “no rival offers” on the table that “come close to meeting” his demands.
While that may suggest that the Merseysiders are confident of keeping Konate, that is not in fact the case.
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There is still a sizeable gap between the club’s current proposal and what the 26-year-old is asking for. He wants to be one of the top earning defenders in the Premier League, despite his poor form this season.
Liverpool are weighing up their next move
It appears as if negotiations are still ongoing despite the impasse. Sporting director Richard Hughes was reportedly hopeful of a breakthrough a couple of months ago, but since December, things have been going in the wrong direction.
The absence of offers from rivals does put the Reds in a stronger negotiating position, but a lot now hinges on who blinks first.
It is believed the club are still keen on keeping Konate. They value the player at £50m, and allowing him to leave on a free transfer would be a big blow. Yet, they are reluctant to match the centre-back’s demands.
Could a replacement for Konate be signed?
As things stand, the focus appears to be on keeping the France international at Anfield. There was interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, but the 25-year-old’s £300,000 a week wage packet made that deal a non-starter.
Konate isn’t even demanding that much, so if Guehi was being lined up as his replacement, you can understand why they didn’t end up challenging Man City for his signature.
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