Liverpool harbour ‘major worries’ over Ibrahima Konate as Marc Guehi plan is revealed

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Liverpool continue to be concerned about the future of Ibrahima Konate as he enters the final year of his contract, Rousing The Kop understands.

Konate became a mainstay in the Liverpool defence as Arne Slot won the Premier League during his first season at Anfield.

However, the Frenchman is yet to commit his future to the club and RTK can reveal that talks remain locked at a standstill over a new deal.

Liverpool are set to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen while, as RTK reported on Friday morning, the Reds are eyeing Marc Guehi on a potential free transfer in 2026.

With so much churn and uncertainty over Liverpool‘s centre-half options, RTK transfer insider Graeme Bailey has added some context around Konate‘s current situation.

Ibrahima Konate contract casting ‘black cloud’ over Anfield

Liverpool’s transfer plans have excited many at Anfield this summer. But as happy as things have been, there remains a feeling that Konate’s current impasse is in desperate need of resolving.

“Whilst Liverpool were always working on a new defender even before the decision to let Quansah leave, Konate’s situation continues to be the one black cloud over the summer recruitment plans at Anfield,” Bailey tells RTK.

“Liverpool are desperate to agree new terms with him. They love the player and the way he has progressed is everything they had wanted.”

“However, as everyone is now aware, his contract expires in 2026 and Liverpool have allowed another star player to get into the final 12-months of his deal.”

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“We have previously revealed that talks have not been progressing as they wanted,” adds the journalist. “They never had the intention of this getting to the point where he would be out-of-contract in 12-months and, indeed, he can sign a contract with another club in just six months.

“Having seen Trent Alexander-Arnold leave the club for almost nothing, there is now a fear they could again lose a key player on a free transfer, and Real Madrid are one of the clubs who are admirers of Konate.”

Konate feels he is one of the best around

Alexander-Arnold’s recent departure has left many Liverpool supporters fearing a repeat situation with Konate. However, unlike with the former right-back, the failure to agree terms with Konate does have a financial element.

“Konate now feels he is one of the best defenders in the Premier League and we are told is wanting a contract reflecting that, but at the moment the two sides are not in agreement on terms,” Bailey says.

With Quansah set to leave and interest in the likes of Guehi beginning to mount, Bailey also suggests we may see some worrying movement on Konate as well.

“There are major worries over Konate,” he says. “If a new deal is not agreed, I am told the club would consider a sale.

“However, the problem – as Liverpool know only too well – is that the power now lies with the player. Even if Liverpool wanted to sell, it would need Konate to agree.”