Liverpool fans know that they will be waving goodbye to at least two members of their Premier League title-winning team this Sunday, as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson depart.
But while Salah and Robertson are certain to be given a rousing send-off by Anfield, there may be several more of their Liverpool teammates making their final bows for the Reds.
Alisson Becker is one such player – if he can return to fitness in time – while it will be interesting to see reactions from the likes of Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister at the final whistle as well.
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A sour end could be in store…
Most fascinating, though, is perhaps Ibrahima Konate, who looks set to go into the match in the rare situation of being both out-of-contract, and not yet sure whether he is leaving.
An emotional man, we are sure to see something that confirms what will happen with Konate either way, but ahead of the game, the fact that there is yet to be any official announcement of his departure is perhaps good news for those wanting to see the Frenchman stay.
No news could be good news on Konate
We have now reached the stage of the season where out of contract players are well past announcing their departures and are receiving send-offs from their supporters.
Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Marcos Senesi and Seamus Coleman are just some examples of players who have been announced as certainties to leave their respective teams, and it really is rare that a club will allow an out-of-contract player to go into the final game of the season with question marks surrounding them.
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While this does not mean that Konate will definitely stay, it does at least provide some hope that negotiations are still ongoing.
The centre-back has made it clear in recent weeks that his preference has always been to stay Liverpool, and while that remains the case, it seems possible that negotiations could even reach a head, and be concluded beyond the end of the season.
Konate could negotiate his contract in June
At some stage, there is going to have to be a point where something gives here. Konate is out of contract on June 30th, and if there is no resolution by the middle of next month, then the announcement of a departure will arrive. That it would do so without the send-off he deserves would be a shame, but that’s life sometimes.
Konate has previously said that he wants his future sorted by the time the World Cup kicks off on June 11th. So, rather than the end of the current season, perhaps that is the date Liverpool fans should have circled.
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If he does go, clearly that will mean that Sunday will have been his last appearance after five years as a Liverpool player. But given his willingness to stay at Anfield, the clues still suggest that it will not be.
The Reds’ movements in the transfer window may also provide another hint, as they will almost certainly have to replace Konate if he leaves.
Joe Gomez has reportedly been in discussions with AC Milan over a possible move on that front, which again could be a positive indication that Konate is going nowhere. Liverpool would surely not allow both Gomez and Konate to leave at the same time.
For now, this is all just educated guesswork, really. The only people who truly know where the cards are falling are Konate, his representatives and Liverpool themselves. But as long as Sunday arrives without an announcement of his imminent departure, we would lean more towards the No. 5 putting pen to paper on an extension.
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