Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate decision suggests they’re not optimistic about signing Marc Guehi
Liverpool’s new Ibrahima Konate action could mean that they are set to pull out of the race to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
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 move from RB Leipzig in 2021, and has made 136 appearances in the four years that have followed.
Football Insider revealed in May that Real Madrid were “very interested” in signing Konate, and Liverpool wanted to sign Marc Guehi at the end of the window but could not get the move over the line, with both players eventually remaining at their respective sides.
The Guardian reported over the summer that Konate had rejected a new contract with the Anfield outfit after being left disappointed with the wages on offer, but a new development could see him extend his stay at the club, with any future move for Guehi then potentially off the table.
Liverpool reportedly offer Ibrahima Konate new contract
According to transfer reporter Indy Kaila Liverpool have submitted a new contract offer to Konate, with his agent being handed the details of the revised terms today (Monday, 8 September).
Konate recently joked that international teammate Kylian Mbappe calls him “every two hours” in an attempt to persuade him to join Real Madrid, but he could be about to tie his future down to Liverpool if their new contract offer is more suitable than the last.
Arne Slot wants Marc Guehi too but neither will want to be a second choice
Arne Slot’s desire to bolster his backline options following Liverpool’s Premier League title win saw them track Guehi all summer, yet they failed to capture him after waiting until too close to the deadline to make a genuine approach to Palace for his services.
Football Insider revealed on Saturday (6 September) that Liverpool are ready to wait until next summer to sign Guehi, and The Times (7 September) have also reported that the Reds will not revisit their interest in the 25-year-old in the January window.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 160 | 9 | 4 |
Liverpool are now not the only team in the race for the England international’s services, with former scout Mick Brown telling Football Insider on Friday (5 September) that Real Madrid and Barcelona are each eyeing a move for Guehi.
If Konate does sign fresh terms at Anfield to keep him at the club for another four or five years, then it certainly seems unlikely that the Reds go back in for Guehi at any point in the near future.
Both players are good enough to be starters, yet Virgil van Dijk’s presence in the backline means there is only one place up for grabs, and it would make little sense for Guehi to move to Merseyside just to play second fiddle, instead of potentially joining another top club and being a regular starter.