Liverpool’s offseason just got a lot more interesting. The Reds are trying to avoid losing another key player for free, after Trent Alexander-Arnold made the surprising move to Real Madrid. The 10 million euros they got for letting him play in the Club World Cup doesn’t make up for the disappointment. Now, they’re facing a similar situation with defender Ibrahima Konaté.
Konaté’s contract is up after this season, and he’s already turned down Liverpool’s first offer. The French player is reportedly upset that the club put talks about a new deal on hold while they focused on negotiating with Virgil Van Dijk, Mo Salah, and Alexander-Arnold. The Guardian says Konaté and Liverpool are far apart on salary, with the player’s agents pushing for a significant raise and the club wanting to tie any increase to performance bonuses.
This standoff is raising fears that Konaté might follow Alexander-Arnold’s lead and leave Anfield on a free transfer. Real Madrid has already been linked to a potential move, according to Marca. Konaté has been a key player for Liverpool, starting 42 games alongside Van Dijk in the last season. He joined the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2021.
The uncertainty surrounding Konaté’s future, combined with the impending sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for 35 million euros, could lead to a defensive overhaul at Liverpool. Marc Guéhi is reportedly the top target to replace Konaté. If Guéhi leaves Crystal Palace, it could create an opportunity for the Eagles to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting. The loss of their captain and defensive rock might make Diomande an even more attractive option for Palace.