Patrice Evra names shock new club for Ibrahima Konate after Champions League nightmare
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Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra shielded fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konate from criticism while offering transfer options for the Liverpool center-back this summerIbrahima Konate hasn't enjoyed his strongest season for the Reds(Image: Getty Images)The 2025/26 campaign hasn't quite gone to plan for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract this summer and is likely to receive approaches to join the likes of Real Madrid on a free transfer.Coach Arne Slot said the French defender has found himself "a bit too much at the crime scene" earlier in the campaign as the Reds look poised to break the club's mark for the most goals allowed in a single Premier League season.The 26-year-old Konate was nearly at the scene of the crime again in the Champions League during Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Galatasaray, but a strange offside flag let him off the hook.Speaking exclusively with Liverpool.com on behalf of Stake, French legend Patrice Evra admitted that he thinks fellow French international Konate gets a lot of unfair "stick" amid swirling contract rumors. He even named a surprise club for the Liverpool defender to join: Manchester United (perhaps showing his Red Devils bias).READ MORE: Galatasaray coach steps up Liverpool mind games ahead of Champions League second legREAD MORE: Wayne Rooney has damning two-word response to Liverpool defeat at Galatasaray"Ibrahima Konate gets a lot of stick," Evra, a five-time Premier League winner at Manchester United with 81 France caps, said.
"When you're a centre-back and playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, your errors and mistakes are highlighted even more.""Konate is a great center-back and will have a lot of choice for his next club if he decides to leave Liverpool," he continued. He would be welcome."Patrice Evra representated France at five major tournaments(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool didn't do Konate any favors in recent transfer windows.
2025 summer signing Giovanni Leoni tore his ACL in his first start for the club (admittedly not Liverpool's fault), and fourth-choice center-back Joe Gomez is frequently deployed at full-back to cover for a lack of depth in that department.The Reds tried to sign then-Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on deadline day, but the move broke down and the England international instead joined Manchester City in January.Ibrahima Konate had a hard time defending Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen on Tuesday(Image: Getty Images)Thus, Konate has been tasked with playing twice a week: his 37 starts on the year are just two off his tally from last year, which was a career-high in his young, injury-riddled career.“Unfortunately for him, he does a lot of things well, but he has been a bit too much at the crime scene, that is something I’ve heard people saying before in England," Slot said of Konate following a 3-3 draw against Leeds in December.READ MORE: Liverpool on red alert as Julian Alvarez casts doubt over Atletico Madrid futureREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher issues Arne Slot brutal reality check over Liverpool's sad new normal“So that means that he’s been involved in goals we’ve conceded, but if you are a centre-back, that happens in football."Against Galatasaray, an errant Konate backpass was seized upon by forward Noa Lang. He also has a major contract dilemma this summer to decide the fate of his club career.