Here we go again. Liverpool fans barely had time to process Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shock move to Real Madrid, and now another key pillar could be slipping away. Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool’s powerhouse at the back, is holding off on signing a new contract and it’s not just a paperwork delay.
Konate, who’s entering the final year of his deal, has reportedly turned down the Reds’ first offer. Why? Simple. He’s not happy with the structure too many performance-related clauses, not enough guaranteed wages. For a player of his calibre and consistency when fit, that’s a bit of a slap in the face.
Liverpool had their hands full last season tying down Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, which meant Konate’s extension talks were pushed to the back burner.
But now, with time ticking, Liverpool risk losing yet another world-class talent for a cut-price fee, just like Trent. And let’s be honest the £10m Madrid paid for Trent? That still stings.
There’s more. Andy Robertson is about to enter the final year of his contract too, and Liverpool are open to letting him leave if Atletico Madrid push for him.
Kelleher’s already gone to Brentford for £18m. The squad refresh is in full swing, but centre-back is now a glaring issue.
Liverpool have splashed a whopping £145.5m on Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong massive, exciting signings but at the back, there’s a hole.
Jarell Quansah is on the verge of a £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen, which could leave Liverpool frighteningly thin at centre-half.
There’s talk of Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace he’s made it clear he won’t extend there and is desperate for a big move before the World Cup. But Liverpool face stiff competition from Newcastle and Spurs.
The message is clear: Liverpool need to move fast and smart. Losing Konaté, after Trent, would shake the dressing room and the fanbase to its core.
Arne Slot has a chance to build something new, but he can’t afford to lose the spine of this team while doing it.
The summer’s just heating up, and Liverpool’s defensive saga could be the biggest story yet.
