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David Lynch has provided an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between Ibrahima Konaté and Liverpool. As of July 2025, there appears to be a "lack of encouragement" surrounding a potential contract extension for the 25-year-old defender, despite Liverpool's intent to keep him beyond the current season. Talks are described as "difficult and drawn out," reflecting the complexities of the negotiations. Lynch noted that Liverpool is not as fixated on selling Konaté this summer as some might believe, emphasizing that the club often prefers to retain important players—even risking losing them on a free transfer—rather than accept less than they deem acceptable fees. Konaté's camp still indicates a desire to stay at Liverpool, and the club continues talks, though no concrete resolution has yet been reached.

Over the 2024/25 season, Konaté proved to be a reliable player, featuring in 42 games and achieving his highest appearance count since 2018/19. His fitness record improved markedly, with just one injury caused by impact rather than muscle issues. His performances included 2 goals and 2 assists, earning him an overall season rating of 8.2, which helped change previous perceptions of him as injury-prone.

Despite interest from other top clubs, including PSG and Real Madrid, Konaté's priority remains renewing his contract with Liverpool. Lynch expressed cautious optimism about the renewal possibilities but acknowledged that it is a challenging negotiation process, influenced by salary considerations and market dynamics. Liverpool has recently managed comparable negotiations with other players, balancing their wage structures and transfer fees, to maintain a competitive squad.

In summary, Konaté’s future at Liverpool is still undecided, with ongoing talks continuing amid competing interests, player ambitions, and club strategies, but the primary focus remains on securing his contract extension to keep him at Anfield for the coming seasons.

PP