Ibrahima Konate’s poor form could be connected to Liverpool’s failed Marc Guehi move

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Ibrahima Konate has been one of Liverpool’s worst-performing players this season.

The centre-back has been the cause of many goals that Liverpool have conceded, and to be honest, it’s a surprise that he’s still being chosen to start by Arne Slot.

Indeed, this likely has to do with the fact that Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the season, and Joe Gomez’s form isn’t much better.

However, given the number of mistakes Konate has made this term, it’s surprising to see him in Slot’s starting XI.

A lot of the Reds’ problems would have been solved in the summer if they’d have just managed to sign Marc Guehi.

However, that clearly wasn’t meant to be with Joe Cole now sharing why he actually thinks Konate has been so poor this season.

Joe Cole thinks Ibrahima Konate was put off by the potential of Marc Guehi joining Liverpool

Guehi was linked with an Anfield switch throughout most of the summer transfer window.

The centre-back’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, which means that the Englishman was available for a cut-rate fee.

This market opportunity piqued the interest of Liverpool, but it likely also made Konate worry about his place in Slot’s plans as his contract is also set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

And now, while speaking on TNT Sports’ The Breakdown, former Liverpool player Cole shared why he thinks Konate has been miles off the pace this season.

“Konate for one, he looks like he’s been space jammed so far this season [had all his ability taken away from him],” he said.

“He’s not at it because he’ll have been reading the news and expecting Marc Guehi to come in, has his head been turned? Did he get bruised a little bit?

“And then once you come off that focus a little bit, as a professional and a player, sometimes you have a bad game and it can go a little bit.”

Ibrahima Konate must prove to Liverpool that he’s worth keeping around

In the past, people have seen Konate as good as Virgil van Dijk.

Over the years, the duo have formed a formidable partnership, with them both being part of the Reds’ impressive defensive displays last season when they won the Premier League title.

However, since the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Konate hasn’t been the same player, with several mistakes being made by the centre-back.

Most fans feel like this is because he wants to force his way out of Anfield and join up with Trent Alexander-Arnold in Madrid, but, in reality, it’s likely because he thought he was being replaced.

Even just the thought of getting replaced can weigh heavily on the heads of some players, and in Konate’s case, he seems to have taken it extra hard.

He’s keeping his place in Slot’s starting XI for now, but if his performances don’t improve soon, it’s hard to see how the Dutchman could afford to keep him in, especially if he wants to retain the Premier League title.