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Ibrahima Konate will reportedly leave Liverpool despite saying in April that an agreement was close.
It’s a sharp contrast to the noise around Konate just a few weeks ago, when briefings from the player and various transfer insiders suggested an agreement with Liverpool was almost there and that rival interest, including from abroad, had been pushed back.
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Supporters were led to believe it was only a matter of time before the centre‑back’s renewal was rubber‑stamped. Instead, the story has flipped completely as talks have stalled and speculation over an exit has cranked up again.
Taking to X, the reliable Paul Joyce has confirmed the widespread reports that Konate will leave Liverpool this summer:
“Ibrahima Konate set to leave Liverpool when contract expires next month. The player and club unable to agree new terms.”
Negotiations with the Frenchman’s representatives have reportedly been going on since November 2023, making it all the more unbelievable that both parties were unable to find an agreement.
The idea of watching him line up elsewhere next season while Liverpool scramble for alternatives is exactly the sort of scenario the club had been trying to avoid when talks first began.
Giovanni Leoni’s long‑term ACL recovery means Liverpool were always going to need cover at centre‑back, and that is at least where a small silver lining emerges.
Still working his way back after surgery last year, the teenager will not be rushed, with the club intent on protecting his long‑term future.
In the meantime, the £60m arrival of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, due to join officially on July 1, gives Arne Slot a ready‑made replacement profile-wise and ensures Liverpool are not left completely exposed once Konate moves on.
Ibrahima Konate set to leave Liverpool when contract expires next month. The player and club unable to agree new terms.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) May 29, 2026