David Ornstein provides latest on Ibrahima Konaté’s contract, sparking concern among Liverpool fans

 

 

Ibrahima Konaté now has less than six months remaining on his Liverpool contract, and both he and the club are quickly approaching a crucial decision point. The defender’s future has been a hot topic all season. In early December, Lewis Steele reported that Liverpool’s hierarchy “remain committed” to extending Konaté’s deal, especially after Real Madrid appeared to cool their interest (Mail Sport).

A few months ago, the 26-year-old rejected claims that the club had presented a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer, stating he hoped to make his decision “very soon.” However, no clarity has emerged yet. On Tuesday, David Ornstein provided the latest update on Konaté’s contract in The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet, and it seems there’s still no immediate resolution as the end of his deal draws near. Ornstein wrote:

“Liverpool appear to be holding off until the next transfer window, with Konaté likely to leave when his contract expires. No progress has been made on new terms. With Van Dijk and Gomez’s deals ending 12 months later, the club will need to focus on strengthening the heart of defence.”

While Konaté has faced criticism for some costly mistakes this season, he has also delivered improved performances since conceding a penalty in the 3-3 draw at Leeds last month. His importance to Arne Slot’s squad has only grown, particularly given the lack of cover in central defence.

Ideally, Liverpool would keep their number 5 at Anfield during his prime, rather than risk losing him for nothing and then having to invest heavily in replacements. Currently, though, no breakthrough in contract talks seems imminent, and understandably, fans are growing anxious with each passing week.

That said, it’s worth remembering that Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk only finalized their extensions near the end of their contracts last April, so there is still time for Konaté to do the same. Hopefully, he and the club can reach an agreement soon, easing concerns over a potential free transfer, though a definitive answer may still take some time.