‘Surprise, surprise’ – Keith Wyness swipes at Ibrahima Konate after Liverpool turnaround
Liverpool felt in no rush to bring Jeremy Jacquet to Anfield despite the likely departure of Ibrahima Konate in the summer.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states Liverpool are “happy” with Konate at the club.
Jacquet’s £60million move to Liverpool, with the 20-year-old remaining at Rennes for the rest of the season, may have confirmed Konate’s exit in the summer.
Konate has not agreed to a new contract at Liverpool, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
Ibrahima Konate ‘coming back into form’
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 – believes Liverpool have accepted that Champions League qualification is their only aim for the rest of the season.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the Merseyside club will freshen up their squad in the summer.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Do they need him [Jacquet] right now? I think that they’re happy with Konate at the moment. He’s come back into a bit of form.
“He had a poor start to the season, but he does seem to be coming back into form as he is coming towards his free agent situation. So, you know, surprise, surprise. Players coming into form as they come towards the end of their contract, and they need a move. Isn’t that a novelty that we’ve never seen before?
“So, you know, I think that Liverpool right now with Konate, they’re okay. I think they’ve almost resigned themselves also to the fact that they’re going to be just within the five places for the Champions League. They’re going to make it into Champions League, but really they don’t have to push on much further than that.
“So I think they’re almost resigned to that fact, and they’re going to settle with the squad and then come in with Jacquet next year and make things fresh and move on.”
Liverpool prepare for summer activity
Liverpool have already begun planning for the summer transfer window, with Arne Slot wanting to address the depth in his squad.
Jacquet was their only addition of the January window despite concerns over the centre-back and right-back position.
Champions League revenue may influence transfer plans with Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton already a target for Liverpool in the summer.