‘Konate rejects Liverpool as fears raised of new Alexander-Arnold contract rundown’
Liverpool worries over Ibrahima Konate running down his contract like Trent Alexander-Arnold are on the rise after the Frenchman rejected the Reds’ new contract offer.
Liverpool’s recent Premier League title success was fronted by a strong centre-back pairing of Konate and Virgil van Dijk, who helped the Reds keep the most clean sheets in the league as a team, with 14.
The French international has been with the Merseyside club since a £36million [Sky Sports] move from RB Leipzig in 2021, and has made 132 appearances for the club in the four years that have followed.
Arne Slot is moving to shake up his options at the heart of his backline this summer, with Jarell Quansah set to join Bayer Leverkusen soon, while Liverpool have been linked with a move for Marc Guehi.
The Reds will not want to lose Konate anytime soon as they plan another title charge, but the 26-year-old is demanding more from the club as they look to tie his future down for the long-term.
Liverpool refuse to overpay for Ibrahima Konate deal
Konate has previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but with one year left on his existing contract, Liverpool have moved to put forward fresh terms to him in the hope of an extension beyond next summer.
The Guardian have, however, reported that the 26-year-old has rejected the Reds’ initial new contract offer, and he is stalling over signing another deal after being left disappointed by the structure of Liverpool’s terms.
Konate’s representatives are claimed to be “pushing for a higher basic wage” after the offer was heavily based on meeting certain performance targets, but his rejection has raised fears at Anfield that another key man could be about to run down his contract after Alexander-Arnold recently did so before joining Madrid.
The Guardian’s report also reveals that Liverpool plan to resume talks over a new deal with Konate later in the summer but the club “are adamant they will not be forced into overpaying” to make him sign an extension.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Pass completion % | Tackles won per 90 | % of aerials won |
| Ibrahima Konate | 31 | 1 | 90.2% | 0.91 | 71.8% |
| Marc Guehi | 34 | 3 | 83.5% | 1 | 54% |
Liverpool interested in Marc Guehi
Football Insider verdict
Liverpool are certainly not resting on their laurels this summer after their comfortable title win, and their interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Guehi could be what is putting Konate off a move to extend his time at Anfield.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 20 June that Guehi wants to join Liverpool and the Reds have emerged in pole position to agree a deal, and if he does make that move, he will not be joining to play second-fiddle to the Frenchman.
Van Dijk’s position in the starting eleven is untouchable as it stands, and so Konate and Guehi would be battling it out for that other starting spot at centre-back, and if Liverpool are to spend big on the England international, Slot will want to hand him ample chances in both the Premier League and Champions League.
That would come as disappointing news to Konate, after his key role in their title win, so he may even be pining for a move away this summer if Guehi joins and his game-time looks set to decrease, especially with the World Cup on the horizon next summer and a place in France’s first XI at stake.