Liverpool could be heading towards a very difficult situation with Ibrahima Konate this summer.
Konate starred during Arne Slot’s first season at Liverpool, the man who was ultimately chosen as Virgil van Dijk’s partner.
Against Ipswich Town on the opening day of the Premier League season, Liverpool fans will remember that Slot opted for Jarell Quansah alongside Van Dijk, only to then change his mind at half-time.
Konate replaced Quansah and the Frenchman has remained in Slot’s strongest team ever since.
And although the club are keen to keep the defender at Anfield, Konate is stalling on a Liverpool contract extension.
Liverpool might be forced to sell Ibrahima Konate
That being said, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has now offered more insight into Konate’s situation.
Liverpool are concerned that they might be forced to cash-in on Konate this summer if a new deal is now agreed, given that his contract is currently set to expire in 2026.
Bailey said: “We really can’t underestimate just how worried Liverpool are by Konate’s situation.
“It’s a situation that they did inherit to be fair, but it’s also one that they could have maybe got in front of last summer.
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“If we’re playing sort of devil’s advocate with this, would Konate have turned down a big contract offer last summer? Unfortunately he didn’t really get one last summer.
“And then let’s be fair to the player — he’s backed himself to have that big season and he’s had that.
“He really has stepped up from being a good Premier League player to being a very very good one.
“Liverpool are in a massive quandary with him now, I’m told if a new deal is looking unlikely in the coming weeks then do not rule out the prospect of Liverpool selling Konate this summer.
“Liverpool don’t want to be dragged into a difficult situation and obviously there is the prospect that Konate might not accept a summer move
“Then if that is the case we wonder whether we’re in a similar sort of cycle to Trent and Real Madrid.
“It’s all about player power and Konate’s got it and Liverpool are very worried about this situation.
“They were always going to look to bring another centre-back, which they will do, but they might be facing the prospect of maybe having to bring two — but that would depend on Konate going.
“So don’t be surprised if we see some really strong links with Konate elsewhere.
“All the clubs love him — we know Real Madrid but PSG like him a lot and Bayern Munich.”
Liverpool missed out on Dean Huijsen
Of course, were they forced to sell, Liverpool would surely demand a lot more than the £35m they paid to sign Konate from RB Leipzig, even if he only has one year left on his deal.
Interestingly, Chelsea enquired about Konate’s situation a few months ago, potentially spotting an opportunity to steal one of the Premier League’s strongest performers.
Liverpool fans will surely just be hoping that the club are able to come to an agreement with Konate, who has been so important as explained.
Liverpool wanted to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer, only to be beaten by Real Madrid to his signature.
And whilst Liverpool have found a Huijsen alternative, they certainly won’t want to lose Konate this summer, a pillar of Slot’s project.
