Fabrizio Romano Provides Update on Konate’s Contract Negotiations with Liverpool | OneFootball

Contract Talks Continue as Konate’s Liverpool Future Remains Uncertain

Madrid Interest Grows as Negotiations Stall

Liverpool find themselves walking a tightrope yet again. Just as supporters took solace in the double renewals of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, unease creeps back in – this time around the future of Ibrahima Konate.

According to Fabrizio Romano, speaking via his YouTube channel, talks between Liverpool and Konate over a new contract are ongoing, but key issues remain unresolved. The Italian journalist noted: “Ibrahima Konate is in negotiations over a new deal [with Liverpool] but there is still no full agreement on some crucial points.”

He added: “Real Madrid have decided to go strongly on a new centre-back for the summer transfer window… important to mention that Konate is another name on Madrid’s list. He’s out of contract in 2026, so it’s for sure a situation to follow.”

Familiar Pattern as Real Madrid Lurk

The echoes of the Trent Alexander-Arnold saga are impossible to ignore. The academy product’s move to Real Madrid, after 352 appearances and seven major trophies, stung more than most. Now, the Spanish giants seem to be circling again – and Liverpool can ill-afford another free exit of a starting defender.

In April, Lewis Steele reported that “zero progress” had been made on a new deal for Konate. Since then, little appears to have shifted. With both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain monitoring developments, the French centre-back is increasingly becoming a focal point of Europe’s elite.

Financial Gap Highlights Liverpool’s Challenge

Konate’s current contract, which runs until 2026, sees him earn £80,000 per week. Reports suggest he is seeking a significant bump to around £200,000 weekly – a move that would place him among the top earners at the club. In light of Van Dijk’s and Salah’s renewals, the request doesn’t seem unreasonable.

This is not a player on the periphery. Konate, when fit, is arguably Liverpool’s most imposing centre-back – combining aerial dominance, composure, and pace in a way few defenders in Europe can match. At 25, he represents not only the present but the future of the club’s defensive core.

Photo: IMAGO

Urgency Needed to Avoid Repeat Mistakes

Many had assumed Konate was waiting for clarity on the futures of Van Dijk, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold – the so-called “Contract Three”. With two of those signatures secured, fans expected swift progress. But as Romano rightly stated, “there is still no full agreement.”

The potential implications are profound. Losing Alexander-Arnold was a body blow, but allowing Konate to drift into the final year of his contract with suitors like Madrid and PSG circling would be a damning indictment of Liverpool’s planning.

Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards will be acutely aware of the optics – and the risks. If Liverpool are to transition successfully into the Arne Slot era, keeping players like Konate is non-negotiable.