Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has sent a clear message to the Liverpool hierarchy: Ibrahima Konate must stay.
Fresh from a historic 1-0 win at Sunderland where Liverpool became the first team this season to win at the Stadium of Light, the captain Virgil van Dijk turned his attention to the looming contract crisis surrounding his defensive partner.
Konate’s current deal is rapidly approaching its end, and while the 26-year-old has become a vital pillar of the team, a new agreement remains unsigned.
Virgil van Dijk has never been one to mince words when it comes to the standards required at Liverpool, always showing his commitment to the club.
So, when the Dutchman stood in the bowels of Sunderland’s home after a gritty 1-0 win, a result that saw the Reds become the first side to take three points from there this season, there was no doubt he demonstrated the leadership that Virgil van Dijk is known for.
Van Dijk’s towering 61st-minute header, steered home from a Mohamed Salah corner, didn’t just break Sunderland’s 12-match unbeaten home run; it breathed life into a spluttering Champions League pursuit.
The victory moves Liverpool to 42 points, closing the gap to just three points behind fourth-placed Manchester United. In a season Arne Slot has described as his toughest “by a mile,” this was a result that kept the club’s European hopes flickering, and it’s clear that Virgil van Dijk’s presence played a crucial part.
However for the Reds skipper focus quickly shifted from the scoreline to the looming shadow over the AXA Training Centre and the fanbase: the future of Ibrahima Konate, as highlighted by Virgil van Dijk.
The central defender is approaching the final year of the five-year deal he signed upon arriving from RB Salzburg for £35 million in 2021. And while the Frenchman has often had to battle the “unlucky” tag regarding his fitness, his performance against Brian Brobbey on Wednesday night was a timely reminder of why Liverpool cannot afford to let the clock run down, and why Virgil van Dijk wants him to stay.
Liverpool became just the second team to keep a clean sheet at Sunderland this season, and for Van Dijk, there was one clear reason why his side survived the onslaught.
“He [Konate] was outstanding,” Van Dijk insisted to reporters post match. “He was incredible today. Brian Brobbey has made a lot of defenders’ lives this season pretty difficult, but Ibou did outstanding.
“Obviously I want him to stay. He’s an important figure on the pitch. That’s what everyone sees, but off the pitch as well, he’s one of the leaders. He’s outstanding and, in my eyes, a world-class centre-back.” These strong sentiments certainly show the impact Virgil van Dijk has on the team.
The endorsement is significant. Van Dijk doesn’t hand out the “world-class” label lightly, and his public backing puts the spotlight squarely on a recruitment team that has already overseen the summer arrivals of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike in a £400m spending spree, all under the guidance and example set by Virgil van Dijk.
Reports suggest the sticking point is financial; Konate is reportedly seeking a parity-shaping £200,000-per-week deal—a significant jump from his current £70,000–£80,000 salary. Even for players like Virgil van Dijk, contracts and salaries are closely scrutinised.
While Liverpool have historically been hesitant to smash their wage structure for anyone outside the Salah-Van Dijk bracket, the market is shifting. New arrivals like Isak and Wirtz have already entered the top tier of the payroll, leaving Konate’s camp feeling his “world-class” status deserves a similar reward. The club’s current structure still features Virgil van Dijk as a cornerstone.
| Player | Weekly Wage | Contract Expiry |
| Mohamed Salah | £400,000 | 2027 |
| Virgil van Dijk | £350,000 | 2027 |
| Alexander Isak | £280,000 | 2031 |
| Hugo Ekitike | £200,000 | 2031 |
| Ibrahima Konate | £70,000 | 2026 |
The contract process
Despite the pair being close friends, Van Dijk is long enough in the tooth to know that Anfield sentiment doesn’t always translate to a signature on a dotted line. He pointed to his own contract saga last year as proof that these negotiations are rarely “just done.” Once again, Virgil van Dijk’s experience is crucial.
“We speak about everything. It’s a process and let’s see what comes out of it,” Van Dijk admitted. “It’s never that easy. We saw with my own situation last year so it’s never that easy that we can just say ‘let’s get it done’.”
With young reinforcements like Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet currently in the treatment room, the reliance on Konate has never been more apparent and Virgil van Dijk ensures stability at the heart of the defence.
The Anfield record
| Category | Data |
| Joined | 2021 (£35m from RB Salzburg) |
| Appearances | 165 |
| Key Contribution | Neutralised Brian Brobbey (Sunderland 0-1 LFC) |
| Contract Status | Final months of current deal |
The ball, as Van Dijk pointedly noted, is now in the court of Richard Hughes and the FSG hierarchy. With Real Madrid and PSG reportedly monitoring the situation, Liverpool are essentially in a “renew or sell” window to avoid losing the Frenchman for nothing, much like the scenario that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold depart for the Bernabéu. At this stage, Virgil van Dijk’s comments might sway the outcome.
“I can do only so much,” the captain concluded. “It’s in the club’s hands, together with his agents and himself. I have no influence otherwise on that. There is always hope.” These are wise words from Virgil van Dijk.
For Arne Slot, the headache is clear. He has found a defensive partnership that works. Losing one half of that foundation over a wage dispute would be a gamble this new-look Liverpool can ill afford, especially when Virgil van Dijk remains a vital presence.
