Ibrahima Konate gives Liverpool glimpse into future by removing immediate transfer concern

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The Frenchman has confirmed he looks set to stay at Liverpool beyond the summer - that will have a huge impact on next season and the years to come at AnfieldLiverpool has been handed a major boost by news that Ibrahima Konate is close to extending his Liverpool contract (Image: Getty Images)As Liverpool’s players celebrated on the Hill Dickinson pitch, its supporters must have thought the day couldn’t get any better. Avoiding that scenario with 26-year-old Konate eases what would have become a significant headache for Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy.We’re not quite there, but there no longer seem to be concerns that Konate will don the colors of another club next season.

This is what I always wanted,” said the center-back."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 and November, and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet."Konate confirmed he looks set to stay at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)The implication is that Konate never wanted to leave. Only he really knows the truth of such remarks and whether lucrative offers from Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain could have turned his head.But after last summer’s questionable recruitment policy, and following intense speculation over his own future, Konate committing on terms acceptable to Liverpool is an important win for Hughes.It also alleviates perhaps the biggest problem Liverpool faces ahead of next summer’s window.

With Jeremy Jacquet set to join, Giovanni Leoni returning from injury, and captain Virgil van Dijk sticking around for another 12 months, center-back suddenly looks like one of Liverpool’s strongest positions.Konate will help shape the next generation of Liverpool center-backs(Image: Getty Images)Given Gomez’s injury record, he may be deemed surplus to requirements, despite his reliable performances this season.Ironically, that’s one thing which Konate, unquestionably Slot’s first choice alongside Van Dijk, has lacked. But the erratic displays that pockmarked fixtures across the autumn months have lessened in recent weeks.Against PSG, he was among the team’s best performers, while the tragic passing of Konate’s father in January perhaps sheds some light on why his levels dropped in the first half of the campaign.Now, he and Liverpool will be looking forward optimistically.