Ibrahima Konate leaves Liverpool squad before Champions League tie as he returns to France
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Ibrahima Konaté Rejects Liverpool Contract Offer Amid Exit Speculation
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has rejected the club's latest contract proposal, intensifying fears of a free transfer departure at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old French international, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £36m under Jürgen Klopp, has made over 160 appearances and won four major trophies, including the 2025 Premier League title. Despite being a regular alongside Virgil van Dijk this 2025-26 season, Konaté's form has dipped below last year's highs, drawing criticism for errors.
Contract talks, initially promising in October-November, have stalled since December. Liverpool view their offer—competitive with Europe's top defenders—as fair, but Konaté's wage demands remain too high, short of £300,000 weekly yet unacceptable to the Reds. Sources indicate no pre-contract agreement with rivals exists, though interest persists.
Manager Arne Slot appears ready to let him go, with former scouts labeling Konaté "finished" at Anfield due to inconsistency. Liverpool plan no further renewals, eyeing a summer upgrade amid defensive shortages—Giovanni Leoni injured, Joe Gomez underused.
Suitors like Bayern Munich, PSG, and previously Real Madrid (now cooled) and Chelsea loom, but wage hurdles may deter them. Liverpool face a dilemma: risk losing a key asset for free or sell in January for funds, though summer replacement is preferred.
Konaté's decline from breakout star to liability could end his Reds tenure, prompting a squad rebuild.
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