Liverpool have really muddled their contract negotiations recently and now it appears to be getting worse with Ibrahima Konate reportedly yet to sign the offer he has allegedly been made by the club amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG.
This season has seen the rise of several players, including the remarkable rise to prominence of Ryan Gravenberch, but another player that is getting better and better is Ibrahima Konate. It’s become customary for Anfield to scream “IBOU” whenever he makes a touch with his status at Anfield growing week by week.
Alongside Virgil van Dijk, he has been dominant and composed. Were it not for injuries, he would be even more highly rated but with a first Premier League medal likely on its way, Konate has become undroppable.
Of course, that’s not saying much when Joe Gomez is out until the end of the season and his only backup is Jarell Quansah but there is no denying Konate’s class.
Which is why rumours of a potential exit are distressing. A recent claim from Sky Sports Switzerland suggested that Liverpool “will not do anything crazy” to hold onto the 25-year-old with contract talks between his reps and the club said to be “dragging”.
Now, suggestions are being made that the reason for the delay is that Konate has yet to accept the contract offer Liverpool have made.
Liverpool facing yet another contract saga
FSG have made supporters angry with the way contract talks have dragged with Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Now it appears that Liverpool are struggling to renew a deal for Konate as well.
His £70,000-a-week terms are set to expire at the end of next season and so Liverpool face another protracted contract negotiation with a key starter.
According to Le Parisien, Liverpool have made an offer to Konate but the player “doesn’t seem to want to rush things”.
While Liverpool are typically run like a tight ship, FSG have allowed things to reach a dangerous point where they could lose several key players for free in the next few seasons.
Arne Slot will no doubt be worried about the situation but the fortunate aspect of it all is that it’s not yet affecting the players on the pitch. When that changes, it will indeed be a worrying situation.
