Liverpool has been handed the worst possible start to the summer with the news that Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Anfield, just over a month after suggesting he was staying
23:08, 28 May 2026
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones of Liverpool arriving before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Ibrahima Konate is reportedly set to leave Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty Images)
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse after THAT season, Liverpool still had one more bombshell to drop.
The news that Ibrahima Konate is set to leave the club has left fans reeling, just as they were feeling somewhat relieved to see the back of such a wretched campaign.
For the Frenchman to seemingly be on his way out will be viewed by many as a huge failing on a head coach and director of sport that were already under considerable pressure - not least because, just over a month ago, Konate had essentially told everyone that he would be staying.
"My future? To be fair, there are many things people have said, but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement," Konate told reporters after the Merseyside derby in April.
"I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible, but we are in a good way. For sure, there is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted.
“I’m waiting to sort the contract, but when everything is sorted, you will have to ask Richard (Hughes) what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Ibrahima Konaté of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Ibrahima Konate seemed to indicate he was close to signing a new contract at Liverpool last month(Image: Getty Images)
Well, fans certainly haven’t been rendered speechless by this outcome. To say Konate exiting after those comments is not a good look for Liverpool is an understatement.
It raises even more questions about the direction the club is heading right now. Patience is already paper thin among a lot of supporters with Arne Slot, and even if the Liverpool boss wasn’t directly involved in this decision, it will only raise further questions about his position.
And it won’t do Hughes any favors either. Having only brought one new player in during his first window, with Liverpool going on to win the title, his second summer saw transfer records being broken left, right and center, and led to the Reds barely scraping into the Champions League.
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Now, it appears he’s been unable to reach an agreement with a player who was seemingly ready to put pen to paper. There will of course be more nuance to the situation than that, but Hughes definitely does not come out of this smelling of roses.
And, to make matters worse, he will surely now have even more work to do this summer in the transfer market.
Losing two senior figures in Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson is a blow, and now that another - who is still only 27 remember - looks to be on the way out, it feels like the core of Liverpool’s glory years is disintegrating.
Arne Slot new head coach of Liverpool and Richard Hughes sporting director of Liverpool during thier first press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England
The pressure is really now on Arne Slot and Richard Hughes(Image: Getty Images)
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There was already plenty of work to do on this squad this summer, but with Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes, it felt like the Reds had its house in order in the center of defense. Not anymore.
As highly as Jacquet is rated, there is surely no way Liverpool can go into the new season without adding to their options if Konate is indeed leaving. Having a soon to be 21-year-old partnering what will be a 35-year-old Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defense, with 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni and an injury-prone Joe Gomez as backup, feels like far too big a risk.
Liverpool needs this summer to go right after such a poor season. If Konate goes, that is the worst possible start.