Richard Hughes Sporting Director of Liverpool during the first Arne Slot press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England.placeholder image
Richard Hughes Sporting Director of Liverpool during the first Arne Slot press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The writing could be on the wall for Ibrahima Konate and Liverpool
Liverpool are still quite far away from reaching any sort of new contract agreement with Ibrahima Konate this year, meaning his departure looks increasing likely.
The club has been in ongoing conversations with the centre-back for more than a year now and they are still no closer to a breakthrough. Konate has reportedly rejected three new contract proposals from Liverpool at this point.
A new update claims the problem for the defender is the money he is on, which has created a ‘huge dilemma’ for Richard Hughes.
Ibrahima Konate no closer to signing new Liverpool contract
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool and Konate ‘remain some way apart’ in conversations over a contract extension. The France international now has less than six months left on his current terms and will leave Anfield as a free agent this summer if there is no breakthrough in talks.
Concerns are now starting to rise over his position at the club. He is currently able to enter pre-contract discussions with rival clubs, which could set him up for a move as soon as he leaves Liverpool in the summer.
Real Madrid had been heavily linked with Konate for a long time but that transfer lead has diluted over recent weeks.
Ibrahima Konate wage demands ‘too high’
Despite several errors this season and his form far from consistent, Konate reportedly believes he should be ‘one of the top-paid defenders in the Premier League’.
The France international believes he has done enough to prove himself as such, having spent almost five years in England’s top flight.
Konate is not believed to be demanding in the region of Virgil van Dijk’s wage packet, which is a reported £300,000 per week after his own extension in 2025. However, his defensive partner wants an increase and his demands at this point are said to be ‘too high’ for Liverpool to agree to at this point in the season.
Due to this butting of heads over new contract terms, all signs are now pointing to Konate leaving Liverpool as a free agent in the summer, which only amplifies the Reds’ urgent need for defensive reinforcements.
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