A Liverpool player has reportedly chosen to leave the club after feeling let down by their initial contract proposal.
The Reds have been active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez. Frimpong and Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5 million and a record-breaking £116 million, while Kerkez signed for £40 million.
Liverpool are still looking to add more players and have been given approval to pursue Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
However, departures are also on the horizon, with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Real Madrid. Despite his contract nearing expiry, Liverpool received a transfer fee for the defender.
Now, Football365 reports that Ibrahima Konate may be next to leave, planning to see out his contract and depart on a free. The 26-year-old centre-back is said to be unhappy with Liverpool’s first contract offer and is seeking a fresh start, with clubs across Europe – including Real Madrid – expressing interest.
Negotiations between Konate and the club have reportedly stalled, though sporting director Richard Hughes is eager to settle the situation this summer. According to The Guardian, Konate’s camp was pushing for a higher base salary, as Liverpool’s offer was heavily performance-related.
Contract discussions were also delayed as Liverpool focused on securing new deals for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom signed two-year extensions.
It’s still uncertain whether Liverpool will manage to convince Konate to stay or decide to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for free.
The French international joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £36 million and has since made 132 appearances, including 42 last season under Arne Slot. During his time at the club, Konate has won the Premier League, FA Cup, and two EFL Cups.
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