Ibrahima Konaté set to leave Liverpool after failing to agree new contract

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Ibrahima Konaté looks set to leave Liverpool after failing to agree a contract extension.The 27-year-old’s representatives have been in extensive talks with the club about extending his five-year stay at Anfield but it now looks certain that the France international will leave for free.If Konaté walks away from Liverpool out of contract, it will be the second consecutive year – after Trent Alexander-Arnold was allowed to run down his contract before a £10m move to Real Madrid – that the club will have lost one of their first-choice defenders on the cheap.Konaté has endured a disappointing season for the Reds but losing an established centre-back without a transfer fee will come as a blow for the sporting director Richard Hughes, with new signing Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni both currently working their way back to fitness after significant injuries and transfer speculation swirling over the future of Joe Gomez.With Liverpool losing Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, Konaté’s departure is another mainstay of the Jürgen Klopp era disappearing out of the door. The Paris-born player is now likely to be courted by PSG, although Chelsea have also been linked with a move.Back in April, the defender had hinted he would like to stay at Anfield when he opened up about the contract negotiations.He said: “My future?

There are many things people have said but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement. I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way.“There is a big chance I’m here next season.

This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract but when everything is sorted you will have to ask Richard [Hughes, ­Liverpool’s sporting director] what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”