Alexander Isak has been faced with criticism following his performance vs Inter Milanplaceholder image
Alexander Isak has been faced with criticism following his performance vs Inter Milan | Getty Images
Liverpool won’t spend as much money as they did last summer, but they will have to spend more if they can’t get these contracts sorted.
As with last season, Liverpool are leaving it late to sort out the future of two valued servants who understand what it takes to be a success at Anfield.
The Reds lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, but managed to persuade Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to extend their contracts. This summer, the key protagonists are Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson. After almost selling him in the summer and in January, it is looking increasingly likely that the Scotland captain will leave Merseyside and head for pastures new. For Konate though, the future is considerably more uncertain.
Liverpool want Ibrahima Konate to stay
Celebrating the late winner against Nottingham Forest, Konate looked every inch the player who wants to stay at Liverpool. Contract talks have been going on for well over a year now but little ground appears to have been made up in terms of tying the 26-year old down onto a new deal. According to Lewis Steele of The Daily Mail, Liverpool are “desperate” to persuade him to stay: “We don't know exactly where Konate’s head is at in this saga – but it is clear he loves the club and enjoys his life at Liverpool.
“Real Madrid had posted an interest earlier in the season but that seems to have cooled. Just like the hierarchy did not panic about Slot’s future based on a few bad months, the club would not have let a tough start to the season cloud their judgment on Konate. They, rightly so, are desperate for him to renew.”
Slot has hinted at Konate stay
Konate’s form has dipped this season, but not in terms of consistency, in terms of errors being made from lapses of concentration. Whether this is down to not knowing where he will be playing his football next season is unknown with Slot’s infamous “scene of the crime” analysis providing a perfect analogy for how he has played.
Slot though, remains confident that a deal can be done: “We are in talks with him so that tells you what we want,” said Slot recently. “It’s clear we would like him to stay but negotiations are ongoing so let’s see where that ends. We wouldn’t be in negotiations if we didn’t want him to stay.” With Micky van de Ven a potential replacement at £78m, losing Konate could be expensive.
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