“It’s concerning… Liverpool faces a major setback as genuine interest emerges in £36m star player.”

Liverpool may face a tough challenge in keeping hold of one of their key players in the coming months, according to a well-regarded journalist who covers the club. Transfermarkt shows that the Reds have six first-team players with contracts running until June 2026, including Ibrahima Konate.

There’s already been plenty of speculation about Konate’s future. Last month, Empire of the Kop reported interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, while CaughtOffside noted that talks over a new contract for the 26-year-old haven’t shown any clear progress.

In a recent Liverpool Confidential Q&A with Mail Sport, journalist Lewis Steele was asked if Konate might be letting his contract run down to leave on a free transfer next summer. Steele responded that while it’s not definite, Konate’s future remains uncertain. Talks between Liverpool and Konate’s representatives began back in November, but after nearly a year, no agreement has been reached.

Steele added that Liverpool are still negotiating and want to secure a deal to maintain a strong position for the future. However, nothing is signed yet, and there’s no clear indication of which way things are heading. This uncertainty is concerning for Liverpool, especially after last year’s prolonged contract disputes. Though Konate isn’t as high-profile as Salah or Van Dijk, losing him on a free transfer would be a significant blow, particularly with Real Madrid’s genuine interest.

Konate remains crucial to Liverpool. The ongoing stalemate in contract talks is worrying, as the club may soon face a major decision about his future.

After missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day, Liverpool still heavily rely on Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig four years ago for £36m (The Independent). Although the 26-year-old struggled at times this season, he recently impressed with a strong performance in the win over Arsenal.

Liverpool fans endured a nerve-wracking 2024/25 season as Salah and Van Dijk nearly let their contracts expire before signing new deals in April, and supporters wouldn’t want a similar situation with Konate.

With the transfer window now closed until January, it’s hoped that sporting director Richard Hughes can finally make progress on Konate’s contract talks before the end of the year and clear up any uncertainty about his future.