“I would lean towards…” – Lewis Steele provides update on Liverpool star’s future | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konate Contract Uncertainty Leaves Liverpool Facing Another Key Decision

Liverpool’s contract uncertainty continues, and this time the focus is on Ibrahima Konate. During Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Dave Davis and Lewis Steele discussed whether the French defender will sign a new deal, with his current Liverpool contract set to expire next month.

Davis framed the issue as “bizarre”, noting that despite previous comments from Konate suggesting a desire to stay, “he’s still not renewed”. That delay has naturally increased speculation around his future, particularly with links to other defenders continuing in the background.

Lewis Steele Still Expects Konate to Stay

Steele’s view was measured but clear. “I would still lean towards Ibou staying,” he told Davis, basing that on “people that I speak to” who still suggest a renewal remains likely.

He also pointed out that Konate himself had offered the strongest indication. “There’s no source you can trust on it more than Ibou himself saying it a month ago,” Steele said.

Yet Steele admitted the situation is becoming harder to read. “The whole situation is just bizarre,” he said, comparing it to Liverpool’s recent history of allowing major contract issues to drag deep into the season.

Liverpool Cannot Let Uncertainty Drift

For Steele, the concern is not simply Konate’s quality, but the timing. He stressed that this is not a case of Liverpool weighing up whether to keep an ageing player.

“He’s still got his peak of his career,” Steele said, adding that Konate is “going to be playing a World Cup with France” and remains “a good player”.

That makes the lack of clarity more concerning. As Steele put it: “Every day that goes by, every week that goes by, you’re thinking, hang on a minute, what’s going on here?”

Photo: IMAGO

Defensive Planning Under Pressure

The discussion also touched on possible defensive alternatives, including Marcos Senesi, although Steele said that link had been “played down a little bit” and appeared “more Spurs orientated”.

Even so, the broader message was obvious. Liverpool need answers quickly. Konate’s future has become another unresolved issue in a summer already full of major decisions.

Steele would “be surprised if he leaves”, but the longer the silence continues, the more uncomfortable the situation becomes for Liverpool.