Liverpool intensify negotiations with centre back Ibrahima Konaté over a new long-term deal, with club officials optimistic of a breakthrough despite mounting interest from Real Madrid.
Liverpool are escalating efforts to resolve Ibrahima Konaté’s contract situation, with senior figures increasingly persuaded that the France international will eventually commit his long-term future to the club.
The centre-back, 26, is entering the final stretch of the five-year deal he signed in 2021, and his situation has attracted predictable attention from Europe’s elite. But sources remain adamant that the talks are progressing in a favourable direction and that the defender’s future still points towards Anfield.
L’Équipe reports that a fresh formal offer was issued to Konaté’s representatives in recent days, part of a renewed push to secure clarity well before the end of the season.
The French outlet describes Liverpool executives as “confident” of a positive outcome and intent on doing “what is necessary” to reach an agreement, echoing the approach taken last season with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Both ultimately renewed their deals despite prolonged uncertainty.
The November international break has been identified internally as a key window for meaningful discussions. The club view the next round of talks as an important barometer of whether Konaté is ready to proceed towards an agreement or if negotiations risk drifting into the final year of his contract, when the leverage inevitably shifts.
Real Madrid remain the most persistent external threat. The Spanish champions have made a habit of capitalising on contract uncertainty, with recent free-transfer acquisitions of Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba illustrating their resolve to exploit situations of this type.
Their ability to lure Trent Alexander-Arnold for a dramatically reduced fee earlier this year is a further reminder of how quickly a stalemate can turn in their favour. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be monitoring developments, aware that Konaté would become one of the most coveted free agents in Europe next summer should talks collapse.
Liverpool, though, continue to see the defender as fundamental to both Arne Slot’s present plans and the club’s medium-term structure. Slot has been unwavering in his defence of the player amid criticism of his recent performances.
The Dutchman rejected suggestions that Konaté’s mistakes reflect a distracted mind, instead pointing to broader fluctuations in the team’s early-season form. In private and public, Slot has made it clear that Konaté “is not the only player to struggle for form,” emphasising that his overall contribution remains significant.
The defender’s performance in the 3–0 defeat at Manchester City, in which Liverpool were comprehensively outplayed, has not altered the club’s stance. He remains integral to the next phase of the team’s development, particularly as Liverpool navigate what is expected to be an extended period of transition involving a reshaping of the squad and gradual phasing out of long-standing senior figures.
Konaté has made 147 appearances since joining from RB Leipzig for £36 million and has become a central pillar of a side that has been rebuilt under Slot with significant financial investment. The club’s expenditure of almost £450 million on new signings underscores the need to protect established assets and ensure continuity in key positions.
Amid that backdrop, resolving Konaté’s future has become a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes and the club’s broader football operations team. Addressing the wage element of a potential deal will require careful management.
Reports that he earns around £70,000 per week have been dismissed, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently stating on NBC Sports that his salary is “more than double that,” suggesting in the region of £150,000 per week.
Any new contract is expected to comprise a substantial increase, potentially bringing him closer to the upper tiers of Liverpool’s pay structure.
Konaté’s contractual position also carries a time pressure that Liverpool cannot ignore. Should no agreement be reached before the turn of the year, the defender will be free from 1 January to enter formal talks with overseas clubs and negotiate a pre-contract agreement for a summer 2026 move.
Liverpool believe Konaté’s future should lie at Anfield. The challenge now is ensuring he reaches the same conclusion.
