Ibrahima Konaté’s decision to leave Liverpool this summer came about after ‘internal disagreements’ at Anfield.
L’Equipe report that the defender’s surprise turnaround in contract negotiations is the result of a chaotic end to the season at Liverpool.
Liverpool disagreement
The newspaper covers Ibrahima Konaté’s imminent departure from Liverpool today, which few had seen coming in recent weeks.
The French defender is set to become a free agent, with reports in England revealing the surprise turnaround on Thursday evening.
The defender had revealed, just a month ago, that he was set to sign a new deal at Anfield. That was on the verge of being finalised.
“We’re close to an agreement. There’s a good chance I’ll be here next year. That’s what I’ve always wanted,” he explained on April 20th.
Now, the situation has changed. And L’Equipe report that the reversal ‘stems from internal disagreements’ at Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s side’s disappointing end to the season, despite finishing fifth and securing Champions League football, slowed down the contract negotiations. It also led to disagreements over choices and finances that would be allocated.
Liverpool back away
In other words, Liverpool appear to have changed their minds on how much to pay Konaté. Previous reports have them offering a five-year deal, presumably with a pay rise. Now they’ve walked back on that.
In the meantime, other clubs, who were circling last month, have entered into concrete negotiations with the Frenchman. That has further muddied the waters and presented him with alternatives.
Now he appears set to go elsewhere, and Liverpool will be left with a choice to make over their defence. With Virgil van Dijk also not signing a new deal yet, they face the prospect of losing both centre-backs this summer.
Jeremy Jacquet is set to arrive and will be fit, and Joe Gomez remains at Anfield, while Giovanni Leoni is battling back from a long-term injury. But beyond that, options are thin as Konaté head’s elsewhere.
Liverpool may now need to enter the market, having already passed up an opportunity to bring Jarrel Quansah back from Bayer Leverkusen.