Deal looked done: Agents in shock after crazy Liverpool u-turn | OneFootball

Agents are apparently in shock after a Liverpool deal collapsed. The Reds made a crazy u-turn here.

Ibrahima Konate will now leave Liverpool at the end of the season. It’s an exit that always felt possible but never probable. Until now, of course.

News has broken everywhere that talks between the two parties are off and it’ll lead to the Frenchman departing the club. It’s a shock, given Konate himself talked positively about negotiations not that long ago.

It appears we’re not the only ones who feel it’s a shock, either. Journalist Ismael Mahmoud reports that Konate’s own agents felt things were going well and were confident of a deal at the start of May.

Things have collapsed rapidly since then. Reading between the lines, we’d imagine it’s because Konate and his agents felt Liverpool would budge somewhat on the specifics of the deal, only for the club to maintain their position until the end.

The why’s and where’s for that aren’t exactly clear, though. Liverpool have been in talks with Konate for well over 18 months now and failed to find common ground.

They’re not left without a starting centre-back - and without money recouped to sign a new one. It feels like a disaster of a situation right now.

Ibrahima Konate: Situation Summary

Anfield Departure Confirmed

As of 29 May 2026, Ibrahima Konaté is officially set to leave Liverpool as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June. Despite the 27-year-old French defender publicly stating in April that a contract renewal was close, talks between his representatives and sporting director Richard Hughes have completely broken down over wage valuation. Having joined from RB Leipzig for £35 million in 2021, Konaté finishes a five-year Anfield stay that included a Premier League title, making his final appearance in Sunday's 1–1 draw against Brentford, where he played the full 90 minutes.

Future Destinations

The powerhouse centre-back's availability on a free transfer has alerted Europe's elite. Reports indicate Konaté heavily favours a move to La Liga, though a return to his hometown with Paris Saint-Germain remains a strong possibility. He has also been named in Didier Deschamps' France squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.