“Concern grows as Liverpool face potential major setback with genuine interest in £36m star.”

Liverpool May Struggle to Keep Hold of Ibrahima Konaté Amid Contract Uncertainty

Liverpool could be facing a tough battle to retain Ibrahima Konaté in the coming months, according to a well-regarded journalist who covers the club closely. As per Transfermarkt, six senior players at Liverpool are set to see their contracts expire in June 2026—Konaté among them.

There has already been plenty of speculation surrounding the French defender’s future. Reports last month from Empire of the Kop highlighted interest from both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, while CaughtOffside noted that talks over a contract extension have yet to show any signs of progress.

In his Liverpool Confidential Q&A for Mail Sport, journalist Lewis Steele addressed concerns about whether Konaté is intentionally allowing his contract to wind down in order to leave on a free transfer. Steele responded that while that may not be the case, Konaté’s future is currently uncertain. Talks between Liverpool and the player’s representatives began back in November, but nearly a year later, no agreement has been reached.

Steele confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and that Liverpool are eager to secure a deal to protect their long-term interests. However, with no clear indication of progress, the situation is causing some concern—especially given how similar contract sagas played out last season.

Although Konaté may not have the same global profile as Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk, losing him for free would still represent a major setback for the club. And according to Steele, the interest from Real Madrid is indeed genuine.

Despite some inconsistent performances recently, Konaté remains a key figure in Liverpool’s defence, especially after their failed deadline-day bid to sign Marc Guehi. He made a strong comeback with an impressive display in a recent win over Arsenal.

Liverpool supporters, still recovering from the contract drama involving Salah and Van Dijk earlier this year, will be hoping not to endure another long-running saga. With the transfer window now closed until January, sporting director Richard Hughes has an opportunity to push for a breakthrough in negotiations with Konaté before the year’s end and bring clarity to the defender’s future.