Ibrahima Konate’s future is arguably one of the most important things Liverpool are going to tackle in the near future.
Konate has become a stalwart in the Anfield outfit’s defence as he has managed to form a more than solid partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
The dynamic duo have helped Arne Slot’s men only concede 40 Premier League goals this season, which is the second-best record of any team in the top flight.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
So, the fact that Konate’s contract at Liverpool is set to expire in 2026 outlines why Richard Hughes has a lot of work to do in the summer.
Liverpool aiming to get Ibrahima Konate’s contract extended before the end of summer
A fresh report from French outlet L’Equipe has shared that ‘new negotiations’ between the Frenchman and Hughes have taken place, with Liverpool wanting the deal done before the end of the summer.
L’Equipe add that those within the Liverpool camp are ‘confident’ that a deal can be struck, which will no doubt be music to the ears of fans.
On Konate’s side of things, everything is ‘calm’ with his entourage claiming that ‘the ball is in the club’s court.’
To that end, L’Equipe also report that negotiations are due to resume in the next one to two weeks.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Ibrahima Konate could be Liverpool’s next Virgil van Dijk
There’s no denying that Van Dijk has been one of the Reds’ most important players over the last few years.
The fact that both he and Mohamed Salah chose to extend their Anfield stay shows that the club have a clear vision for the way they want things to head.
However, with the Dutchman now getting on a bit, Slot is going to have to find his next Van Dijk, and with the qualities Konate has shown this term, it’s hard to see why he wouldn’t be the Reds’ first-choice.
Statistic Average per Premier League game
Interceptions 0.5
Tackles 1.3
Balls recovered 3.0
Dribbled past 0.3
Clearances 4.1
Ibrahima Konate’s defensive statistics in the 2024/25 Premier League season, taken from Sofascore.
He has similar characteristics to Van Dijk, and when the duo are both on the pitch, the defensive line seems much stronger than it is with Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez in the middle.
Of course, these are all just rumours at the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, allowing Konate to leave Liverpool on a free would be a catastrophic mistake and one that Hughes would struggle to live down.