‘I’ve spoken to a lot of Liverpool friends’ – Source drops brutal Ibrahima Konate verdict
Ibrahima Konate is already focusing on his future away from Liverpool amid a drop in form for the centre-back.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Konate will not get back to his best whilst his future remains uncertain at Anfield.
Konate’s contract at Liverpool expires at the end of the season, with the Frenchman therefore free to leave the club next summer.
Real Madrid have pulled their plans to sign Konate, who poached Trent Alexander-Arnold from the Reds this year, but the 26-year-old is still expected to have significant interest from Europe’s top clubs.
Ibrahima Konate has ‘had his head turned’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Bayern Munich and PSG could make a move for Konate.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insists that Konate will leave Liverpool.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, Konate is an interesting one. I mean, he’s had this dip in form which you would possibly attribute to the fact that he’s had his head turned, and he was already focusing on Real Madrid, etc.
“So that could have explained some of the dip in form. But certainly that dip in form has been very apparent. And I’ve spoken to a lot of my Liverpool friends who are saying that he has been really well below par, you know, whether this whole, if they’re able to resolve the contract situation and then, you know, getting back on track.
“He has shown that he can be a quality player at some stage, but I still believe there’s Bayern and PSG out there as well who might be more interested as well. So it isn’t just around Madrid.
“And I do think he’s now sort of, he’s unsettled himself enough that he’s going to make a move. So I would expect him to be going. And I think Liverpool may resolve that in January, but he’s got to completely get back onto Liverpool, sign a new contract, and then get his head down again.
“But while his head’s still being turned with international interest, I don’t think he’s going to be quite the player he was before.”
Liverpool to lose significant Konate sum
Liverpool could have got up to £50million for Konate, which will be a loss for the club considering their high transfer spend in the summer window.
Konate has been criticised by the fanbase for his performances this season, with Liverpool having kept only four clean sheets in 14 games.
Arne Slot’s side dropped more points in a 1-1 draw against Sunderland last time out to leave them eighth in the table.