Liverpool now odds-on favourites to keep Ibrahima Konate as contract U-turn could be on
Liverpool are currently the clear favourites to keep hold of Ibrahima Konate for next season in the eyes of one of the UK’s leading bookmakers.
The Frenchman has already rejected several contract offers from the Reds within the last 12 months, and it had looked increasingly likely that he would be leaving Anfield as a free agent this summer.
Konate has been a key figure at the heart of Arne Slot’s backline alongside Virgil van Dijk once again this term, as he started in all but one of their 27 Premier League games so far in 2025-26.
Football Insider revealed at the start of February that Liverpool still have hope that the centre-back will pen a new contract before the end of the season, and they could now be about to get their way in a surprising development.
Liverpool well-placed for Ibrahima Konate renewal
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in January that Liverpool would be prepared to let Konate leave during the winter window if the right offer came in for him.
The Merseysiders have made several attempts to try and tie the 26-year-old down to a new deal in recent months, but they seen their efforts fall by the wayside on every occasion.
Liverpool secured the signing of Jeremy Jacquet for £60million in January for this summer, which only served to add further fuel to the idea that they had resigned themselves to losing Konate on a free.
However, it now looks as though the Reds may have fresh hope that a shock U-turn could be on the cards for the defender in the coming weeks.
Liverpool are still seen as the most likely destination for Konate to play his football next season, with one major bookmaker even pricing them as the odds-on favourites at 7/10.
The likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and PSG are all seen as potential options as well, but for now, it is Slot and Co. who are seen as the most likely candidates, despite everything that has gone on of late.
The Reds set to follow Jeremy Jacquet with another deal
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday that Jacquet will not be the last addition to Liverpool’s centre-back group this summer, regardless of how Konate’s future ultimately plays out.
Slot has struggled with a lack of depth in the middle of the backline throughout this campaign, with the long-term injury to Giovanni Leoni serving as a major blow.
The club are also mindful that they need to find a long-term replacement for Van Dijk in the coming windows, and they have already decided that they need to add another centre-back option ahead of next term.
Keeping hold of Konate would provide another significant boost to their attempts to rebuild their backline, as the calibre of clubs that are chasing his signature highlights how much value he can bring to a team.