- Konate set to sign new deal
- Frenchman confirms agreement is close
- Compares situation to Van Dijk and Salah last season
Ibrahima Konaté has handed Liverpool a significant boost by confirming a new long-term deal is finally imminent.
The French international was rapidly approaching the final weeks of his current contract, a situation that had sparked intense speculation regarding a potential Anfield exit this summer.
With his existing deal set to expire five years after his £35m move from RB Leipzig, the centre-back has finally put those rumours to rest. Confirming that negotiations have reached a successful conclusion, he announced that he will be penning a new long-term extension shortly, providing a massive boost to the club’s defensive stability heading into the new campaign.
Speaking to reporters after the 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday, Konate told them he is set to stay at the club beyond the summer, but has not hinted at the length of the contract. The defender simply said that he will be at the club next season, hinting that it could be a short-term deal. He said:
“To be fair, there are many things people have said, but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are [now] close to an agreement. I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way. For sure there is a big chance I’m here next season.”
Konate has insisted that his plan was to stay at Liverpool, rebuffing reports that he was in talks with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Both European giants have been linked with the Frenchman on a free transfer this summer, but have now suffered a setback.
The former RB Leipzig star admitted that he has been waiting for the new contract to be signed since the start of the season and said:
“I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way. For sure there is a big chance I’m here next season.”
“This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract but when everything is sorted you will have to ask (sporting director) Richard Hughes what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”
Konate contact Liverpool contract talks to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were made to wait until the final few weeks of their contract last season before they penned new deals at the club. The 26-year-old has now compared his situation to the two club legends and claimed that it might be the club’s plans to leave things until the final stages. He said:
“Yes [it’s taken a long time] but this is a negotiation. With Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah last season it was exactly the same, I think they signed the contract in April and this is maybe how the club want it.”
Konate has been the key figure in the Liverpool backline this season alongside Van Dijk. The centre-back pairing has played over 2000 minutes each in the league this season, while their backups, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez, have been injured for much of the season.
“It was a tough year and I think if everyone knew exactly what happened to me, they could understand many things, which kind of sacrifices I’ve done for this club.
“Right now we focus on the end of the season and make sure we are qualified for the Champions League and after we (can) take the time to talk about the season because it’s going to be a big part of my story and it’s sad in one part (his father died in January).”
Securing Konaté’s future significantly alters Liverpool’s summer blueprint, effectively removing the urgent recruitment of a senior centre-back from the immediate to-do list.
The defensive ranks are already set for a reshuffle the club has already sanctioned a £60 million deal for Rennes’ 20-year-old sensation Jeremy Jacquet, while 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni is slated for a return following the ACL injury that cut short his debut in September.
While Joe Gomez enters the final year of his contract and faces an uncertain future following another injury-plagued campaign, Konaté’s renewal ensures Arne Slot still retains four specialist options even as Virgil van Dijk prepares to enter the final 12 months of his own deal.
Crucially, this stability allows the recruitment team to pivot their financial firepower toward other critical areas. With the defensive foundation stabilised, resources can now be diverted toward a high-priority shortlist that reportedly includes two new forwards, a midfield engine, and a long-term successor at left-back.
