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Following the confirmation of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impending departure, Liverpool are facing another contract dilemma with defender Ibrahima Konate, as negotiations have stalled amid interest from European giants including Real Madrid.

Liverpool are currently struggling to make headway in contract talks with French international Ibrahima Konate, whose current deal expires in 2026.

The negotiations, which began in October 2024, have reached an impasse with significant distance between the player’s demands and the club’s offer.

The 25-year-old defender currently earns £80,000 per week on his five-year deal signed when he joined from RB Leipzig in 2021.

However, according to reports, Konate is seeking a substantial increase to approximately £200,000 weekly – a 150% raise that would place him among Liverpool’s highest earners.

Only Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson are believed to earn more than £200,000 per week at Anfield, highlighting the significance of Konate’s demands.

The French defender has been a key figure in Liverpool’s Premier League triumph this season, starting 26 league matches – his highest tally since joining the club

Liverpool’s urgency to resolve Konate’s future stems directly from their experience with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who recently announced he will leave his boyhood club when his contract expires this summer.

The 26-year-old England international is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, ending his 20-year association with Liverpool

But according to MARCA’s Jose Felix Diaz, there are negative feelings reverberating around Anfield regarding the Frenchman’s deal – and his reluctance to commit to new terms.

The Spanish journalist claims that Liverpool is now worried Konate’s saga could go down the same road as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s:

“The truth is that Liverpool’s management is upset, the doubt arises because of what could happen in the future,” reported Diaz

“At Anfield, they’re experiencing a very strange feeling following Frenchman Konate’s refusal to renew his contract?

They’re starting to detect ghosts very similar to those they felt just a year ago, when Alexander Arnold began to reject offers to extend his contract.”

Liverpool need to learn from the Alexander-Arnold saga by acting decisively on Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation.

To avoid repeating this costly mistake, Liverpool must either secure Konate on improved terms soon or consider selling him this summer while his market value is high.

Delaying a decision risk losing another important asset for nothing, especially with top clubs like Real Madrid and PSG showing strong interest in the defender.

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