Ibrahima Konate contract truth emerges as Liverpool uncertainty continues
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Ibrahima Konate has still to agree a new Liverpool contract with the season about to end on SundayThe trifling matter of Champions League qualification may not be done and dusted just yet. But Liverpool supporters who descend upon Anfield on Sunday will be doing so primarily to bid farewell to some of their heroes.The complication is they don't know exactly how many to whom they will be waving goodbye.Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will command centre stage with both having revealed they will be departing the club at the end of the season after nine glorious years.However, Arne Slot recently admitted Liverpool will have a decision to make over Alisson Becker amid strong interest from Juventus in the 33-year-old goalkeeper, while Joe Gomez has hinted he is unsure over his future.READ MORE: Xabi Alonso decision 'difficult to accept' as Liverpool manager approach explainedREAD MORE: What needs to happen for Liverpool vs Bournemouth Champions League play-offAnd then there is the situation with Ibrahima Konate.After almost 18 months of debate over whether he would extend his Liverpool commitment beyond his present deal expiring this summer, the future of the France international appeared sorted when he declared last month an agreement had essentially been reached.So the revelation last week negotiations remained ongoing with both sides still yet to reach an accord on all the key elements was alarming given there are now fewer than 50 days before Konate becomes a free agent.Liverpool demonstrated last season they aren't averse to taking their time before agreeing new contracts, with both Virgil van Dijk and Salah penning their deals in April barely two months before they were set to leave for nothing.Even the one player who did depart, Trent Alexander-Arnold, brought in a fee with Real Madrid having been keen to sign the defender before the FIFA Club World Cup.The Bernabeu side were long-time suitors of Konate before contacting Liverpool earlier this season to inform they would not be looking to sign the centre-back this summer.
Liverpool, too, would also ideally have Konate sign a new deal, but not on any terms.The ongoing uncertainty, then, adds to the intrigue over his performances for the Reds during the second half of the season. And for a player whose future remains unresolved going into the final weekend of the campaign, there has been been any doubt over Konate being affected by his protracted contract talks.That was seen in January when, after the death of his father, Konate decided to return early from compassionate leave to help a Liverpool defence hampered by injuries.He has since started every game bar the Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur for which he was rested on the bench due to a hamstring concern, and the FA Cup fifth round win at Wolves.In that time, he has featured in 1,130 out of 1,260 minutes in the Premier League.
With Liverpool having precious few regular centre-back options, Konate has made himself available.It would also have been easy for him to effectively down tools during the closing weeks to protect his fitness ahead of the forthcoming World Cup, for which he has been named in the France squad. He wouldn't have been the first player to take such an approach.Konate will hope Sunday isn't farewell to Liverpool.