Exclusive: Ibrahima Konate contract update as Liverpool's ideal scenario becomes clear
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Sources have confirmed to Rousing The Kop that Liverpool will hold further talks with Ibrahima Konate’s camp during the forthcoming international break.Konate will be out of contract at Anfield come the end of June, while the Reds are looking at a couple more central defenders going into 2026.Dayot Upamecano is of interest, and he is also set to be out of contract next summer.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. On Konate, Liverpool are working hard to avoid another Trent Alexander-Arnold situation that will see them possibly losing one of their key defenders on a Bosman free transfer.Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesLiverpool set for fresh Ibrahima Konate contract talksAs Rousing The Kop previously revealed, Liverpool are potentially in the market for two central defenders in 2026, but that aside, they maintain hope that they can keep Konate, who, like many of the squad, has endured an indifferent start to the new campaign.Konate is one of the three free agent central defenders who could be available for nothing in 2026, along with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Bayern’s Upamecano, and as it stands, Liverpool are talking to all three of them.But keeping Konate is a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes and Liverpool, while the ideal scenario is Konate staying and top-target Guehi joining.Our transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, confirmed: “I am told that Richard Hughes will be having further talks during the international break with Konate’s team.
“Liverpool really don’t believe that he has decided his future at this point, whether that be staying at Anfield or leaving.“They felt they made progress in October when they last had a round of talks, and they hope that continues this month to the point they would like to get him tied down before January, at which point Konate could sign a pre-contract elsewhere.”