Ibrahima Konate contract latest - imminent decision, stalemate, World Cup issue

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Ibrahima Konate's contract situation remains a concern for Liverpool, with the defender's future still up in the air following the end of the season as his deal nears its expirationIbrahima Konate's future at Liverpool is still to be decided(Image: Getty Images)Just over a month ago, Ibrahima Konate’s future looked to have been settled.Fresh from a 2-1 derby win over Everton, which took Liverpool a step closer to Champions League qualification — having proved to be more challenging than it should have been — the defender all but confirmed to the waiting reporters at the Hill Dickinson Stadium that he would be signing a new contract at Anfield."My future? I’m waiting to sort the contract, but when everything is sorted, you will have to ask Richard (Hughes) what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”Well, we’re still waiting to get the chance to ask Liverpool’s sporting director that question.

With the 2025/26 season now over, there is still no sign of a new contract for Konate.That doesn’t mean he immediately becomes a free agent, with the 27-year-old’s current deal still running until the end of June. Time is running out, though, and the longer the radio silence continues, the more worried fans will be that the Frenchman could be heading out the door.Decision 'imminent'The good news for Liverpool is there are suggestions that there could be a resolution quite soon — although there’s still no indication as to which direction Konate could be heading.Posting on social media on Sunday, journalist Ben Jacobs claimed: “Clarity over his future expected imminently.”Ibrahima Konate's contract expires at the end of June(Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)There was nothing more than that, though, leaving the door open to the possibility that Konate may yet leave Anfield.There weren’t any immediate signs after the final game of the season against Brentford of a potential departure.

Then again, with all of the attention on Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, the Frenchman may not have wanted to draw attention in any case.Liverpool stalemateDespite Konate seeming to be confident that a new deal was close last month, there have been indications this month that talks with the club have stalled.Speaking just a couple of weeks ago, The Athletic’s David Ornstein indicated that “the situation is still at a stalemate,” while also suggesting that the outcome didn’t look too positive.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Liverpool’s failure to secure Champions League qualification until the final day of the season may have played a part, while the focus from the club’s perspective may have been on Salah and Robertson’s farewell recently.Richard Hughes was at Anfield on Sunday, and the Reds’ sporting director will hopefully have been getting back down to work as quickly as possible.World Cup issueGetting a resolution on Konate as quickly as possible is crucial for Liverpool, not least because of the World Cup this summer.The defender is part of France’s squad for the tournament, and if Didier Deschamps’ side go as far as they are expected to, then Konate won’t be returning until at least midway through July.By then, of course, his current contract will have expired, so Liverpool needs to get a definitive answer from him before he heads to North America — especially if he is to leave Anfield.Arne Slot could have another issue on his hands this summer if Konate leaves(Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)Hughes has already spoken of the difficulties facing the club during an international summer, having said in his first press conference after joining Liverpool in 2024: "When there are major competitions during the summer — a European Championship, Copa America and the Olympics as well — there's a lot of football being played, naturally the attention is going to be there.”Finding a replacement for Konate would then be made all the more difficult, especially during a summer already looking set to be busy, given the numerous problems plaguing Arne Slot’s squad this season.Whatever the answer from Konate, Liverpool needs it as soon as possible.