Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has said that Liverpool should keep hold of Ibrahima Konate.
Aside from the fact that the Reds look destined to win the Premier League title this season, one of the biggest stories regarding them is the contract situation with three Reds stars.
Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk are all set to become free agents in the summer as their contracts at Anfield expire.
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All three are yet to sign extensions, and it is not yet clear as to which of the three if any will Liverpool look to keep around.
However, they will also have to look at next season as centre-back Ibrahima Konate’s deal expires in the summer of 2026, someone that the Reds would have to sign on a long-term contract to keep him at Anfield.
We asked former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson whether the Reds should keep Van Dijk or Konate at the centre-back position. He told WalkOn.com via Betano: “Yeah, it’s a complicated one, because, you know, in Virg, you’ve got a world-class player, but is he going to be world-class in two years time? We don’t know. It’s like that’s only going to start to decline, so to speak.
“With Konate, you know, he might never live up to a van Dijk, but he could be playing for Liverpool for another 10 years. So I think there’s a business thing you’ve got to look at with Konate for that reason.
“Obviously, I don’t think it’s one or the other, because let’s face it, Virgil is not going to be at Liverpool in four years time so it’s only going to be a one or two-year deal max if he even stays. Because of Konate’s age, I definitely think they need to keep hold of him, and you certainly can’t afford to lose both in the same window.”
Liverpool star Konate is reportedly wanted by PSG
If the Reds don’t sign the Frenchman to a long-term contract, he could get his head turned by the fact that reports linked Paris Saint-Germain to signing him last month.
Konate is valued at around £50 million, and Liverpool could decide to cash in on him should they fail to agree a long-term contract.
He has made 34 appearances this season for the Reds, scoring two goals and providing two assists for Arne Slot’s side.
Click here to see the Liverpool squad for the 2024/25 season.