Richard Hughes aims to finalize a deal after 15 months of ongoing negotiations

 

 

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is eager to finally seal a deal after 15 months of ongoing negotiations. But can he get it done?

Hughes has had an unusual 18 months at Liverpool. His first summer saw him sign a backup goalkeeper who wouldn’t arrive for a year, miss out on Martin Zubimendi at the last moment, and then pull off a late-window, opportunistic signing of Federico Chiesa. Beyond that, his summer was mostly defined by player sales.

The following season was equally strange. Hughes was under immense pressure as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, and Virgil van Dijk all entered contract talks with less than a year remaining on their deals. None had signed new contracts by April, at which point Liverpool had already clinched the league. Soon after, Alexander-Arnold departed for Real Madrid, and Liverpool embarked on a record-breaking transfer window, spending over £400m and twice smashing their transfer record. Spectacular moves, though they haven’t yet translated into a stronger team.

Amid this rollercoaster, Hughes has spent roughly 15 months negotiating a single contract: Ibrahima Konate’s. The defender’s current deal runs out at the end of June, and talks to extend it have dragged on with no resolution reported by The Times.

As the deadline approaches, it’s hard to predict whether a deal will be struck. One thing is certain: a decision will come this summer. Liverpool would undoubtedly benefit from Konate staying—he’s a proven player who knows the club and has delivered trophies. But the choice ultimately lies with him. Free to move elsewhere without a transfer fee, Konate is likely to attract plenty of interest.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the talks stretch to 16, 17, or even 18 months—but hopefully they’ll end on a positive note for all involved.