Ibrahima Konate is widely reported to be set to leave Liverpool this summer as a free agent when his contract at Anfield expires
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Ibrahima Konate has reportedly made it clear to his teammates that he will be leaving Liverpool this summer when his contract expires. Konate’s future at Anfield has been the subject of speculation for several months, with his deal with the Reds set to run out at the end of June.
Reports emerged on Friday claiming that Konate will not be putting pen to paper on fresh terms that would see the France international extend his five-year stay on Merseyside.
Konate has been a regular figure in Liverpool’s defence ever since he arrived from RB Leipzig in 2021 in a deal worth £36million. His exit will leave a sizeable hole and will likely mean Arne Slot's replacement will need to dip into the transfer market.
According to a report in French publication RMC Sport, Konate has informed his Liverpool teammates that he will not be changing his mind and will leave Anfield when his contract expires. Real Madrid are the early frontrunners to land the Frenchman, given their historic interest in him.
The claim emerged on the same day that Slot was relieved of his duties, with Liverpool's decision set to have no impact on the defender's future.
The 2024/25 Premier League champions confirmed Slot’s exit after the club finished fifth in the table, securing Champions League qualification.
Ibrahima Konate
Konate has been linked with Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool are thought to have been in talks with Konate’s representatives about a new contract since November 2023, but no agreement has been able to have been reached between the two parties.
The defender revealed in April that he hoped to sign a new deal to extend his stay at Anfield.
“For sure there is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted,” Konate said on April 19.
"To be fair, there are many things people have said, but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are [now] close to an agreement. I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way."
Liverpool will welcome at least one new defender to the club this summer with Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes, while the Reds will also hope to have Giovanni Leoni available after the centre-back suffered an ACL injury during his debut for the club last September. However, it's likely they could add one more defender to their ranks in the summer, especially if Joe Gomez ends up departing.
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