Suggestions from inside Liverpool point to Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation being resolved one way or the other in the next day or two.
The Frenchman’s future has been a hot topic of conversation around Anfield, with his current deal moving towards its final year and no extension yet agreed. There have already been plenty of reports claiming Konate wants to stay at Liverpool, but the club are still deliberating.
Now, the latest from sources close to the situation has injected some real urgency into a saga that has already dragged on for far too long.
Mo Salah vs Jamie Carragher: Who is the biggest Liverpool legend?
Ibrahima Konate’s future will be decided very soon as Liverpool stance shared
The club are the ones holding the cards in these negotiations. Konate’s desire to stay has been widely reported, and now it is up to Richard Hughes, Arne Slot and those alongside them to make a decision.
According to Liverpool reporter David Lynch, the situation is now entering a crucial stage.
Speaking to Anfield Index, he revealed: “I don’t know if I would say that [Konate is more likely to leave] on the basis that the player wants to stay.
“That is 100% my understanding. The player would like to stay at Liverpool. That would be his preference and has been all along. So, and he still wants to stay. I mean, I had conversations this week.
“I was told, you know, a couple of days ago that kind of this period is crucial now, next 48 hours. In fact, I probably better check in on that today to see where that’s up to, but the sense I’m getting from this is that the club are making a decision that they don’t want to go down that route maybe or you know, that’s why they’re leaving their options open.
“So, you know, the player would stay if he could. So, let’s see what happens.”
Lynch said this on Monday afternoon, so there could be further movement very soon. And that sense that a departure is on the cards is a surprising development.
Liverpool’s stance on Konate has fluctuated throughout the season. At times, a renewal has felt like the obvious outcome, especially given the scale of the rebuild already required elsewhere.
But with Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni coming through, the Reds may be more open to sending him to free agency. Wage demands will naturally factor in as well.
Letting Konate leave would open up the need for another senior centre-back, adding to an already lengthy list of signings Liverpool may have to make this summer. If sources are to be believed, we’ll find out soon enough.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
