Ibrahima Konate exit is worst possible start to Liverpool's summer after stunning U-turn

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Liverpool has been handed the worst possible start to the summer with the news that Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Anfield, just over a month after suggesting he was stayingIbrahima Konate is reportedly set to leave Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty Images)Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse after THAT season, Liverpool still had one more bombshell to drop.The news that Ibrahima Konate is set to leave the club has left fans reeling, just as they were feeling somewhat relieved to see the back of such a wretched campaign.For the Frenchman to seemingly be on his way out will be viewed by many as a huge failing on a head coach and director of sport that were already under considerable pressure - not least because, just over a month ago, Konate had essentially told everyone that he would be staying."My future? 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) what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”Ibrahima Konate seemed to indicate he was close to signing a new contract at Liverpool last month(Image: Getty Images)Well, fans certainly haven’t been rendered speechless by this outcome.

To say Konate exiting after those comments is not a good look for Liverpool is an understatement.It raises even more questions about the direction the club is heading right now. Having only brought one new player in during his first window, with Liverpool going on to win the title, his second summer saw transfer records being broken left, right and center, and led to the Reds barely scraping into the Champions League.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

There will of course be more nuance to the situation than that, but Hughes definitely does not come out of this smelling of roses.And, to make matters worse, he will surely now have even more work to do this summer in the transfer market.Losing two senior figures in Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson is a blow, and now that another - who is still only 27 remember - looks to be on the way out, it feels like the core of Liverpool’s glory years is disintegrating.The pressure is really now on Arne Slot and Richard Hughes(Image: Getty Images)There was already plenty of work to do on this squad this summer, but with Jeremy Jacquet arriving from Rennes, it felt like the Reds had its house in order in the center of defense. Not anymore.As highly as Jacquet is rated, there is surely no way Liverpool can go into the new season without adding to their options if Konate is indeed leaving.