Liverpool could be set to lose Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer

Ibrahima Konate seems to have put his injury worries behind him in the 2024/25 campaign, proving a rock at the back for Liverpool in their Premier League winning term.

With that said, there is uncertainty as to whether the Frenchman will remain at the club beyond the 2024/25 campaign.

Signing in the 2021 summer transfer window from RB Leipzig, Konate has undoubtedly fulfilled his relatively high expectations, establishing himself as one of the league’s finest defenders.

Forming a formidable partnership with Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, Konate offers an imposing presence at the heart of the Liverpool defence.

The central defender’s time at Liverpool remains up in the air however, with Konate’s contract currently set to expire following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

With shy of 18 months left on his contract, Liverpool will want to avoid a Trent Alexander-Arnold esque situation unfolding, as the Liverpudlian looks ready to make a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid following the conclusion of his contract.

In October 2024, Fabrizio Romano reported that Liverpool had “opened talks over a new deal for Ibrahima Konate as he’s considered a key part of the project”.

While Konate is reportedly happy at the club, the Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele suggested that there has been “zero progress” in the Frenchman’s contract talks.

While this sounds alarming, both Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah had experienced little breakthrough in their negotiations, before respectively signing two-year deals in rapid succession.

Should Liverpool fail to make any advancements in tying Konate down to a new deal, the Reds may look to offload the Frenchman in the upcoming transfer window in order to avoid losing him on a free.

Konate has reported admirers in the form of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, though it remains to be seen as to whether either club would pursue a move for the defender, with Liverpool expected to demand a reasonable sum.

Liverpool are allegedly scouring the market for a central defender irrespective of Konate’s future, with Dean Huijsen mooted as a potential arrival.

Nonetheless, the exit of Konate, whether that be this summer for a fee or next summer on a free, would provoke unwanted problems for the newly crowned Premier League champions.

Ellis Statham

• Liverpool F.C.
• Premier League
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