Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Image Credits: Getty Images

It seems that one set of contract talks at Liverpool have reached somewhat of an impasse.

The AXA Training Centre wore a different atmosphere on Tuesday as Liverpool’s stars returned to pre-season training for the first time since the tragic death of their teammate Diogo Jota.

What should have been a routine return to work ahead of the new campaign instead became a poignant reminder of the fragility of life in football.

Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo were among the first players to arrive at the Kirkby facility, where they were greeted by countless floral tributes from supporters who had gathered to pay their respects.

The training ground return had been delayed by four days to allow players and staff to attend Jota’s funeral in Portugal on Saturday, where Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson served as pallbearers alongside other teammates

As players went through their fitness routines, news emerged from Spain that is alarming to say the least.

Marca has published a damning report about Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation.

The report, penned by José Félix Díaz, revealed that Konate has now rejected two contract offers from Liverpool.

More significantly, it claimed that the 26-year-old was prepared to run down his contract and join Real Madrid as a free agent in 2026, following the exact blueprint established by Trent Alexander-Arnold just months earlier.

“Konate has rejected up to two offers from Liverpool to renew his contract,” Díaz wrote in his report.

Reports suggest that Konate is demanding around £200,000 per week, which would represent a near-tripling of his current salary.

This would place him among Liverpool’s highest earners, but still a way away from the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool’s offers have reportedly been heavily structured around performance bonuses rather than guaranteed wages, an approach that has left Konate and his representatives “disappointed.”

The Guardian reported in June that Konate’s representatives are “pushing for a higher basic wage” after Liverpool’s proposal was deemed insufficient.

Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone