Liverpool star could now stay after dramatic change of plans | OneFootball

One Liverpool star could now stay at the club after all. It's taken a dramatic change of plans for the club.

Ibrahima Konate’s contract will expire at the end of this season. Liverpool have been working hard on trying to get him to renew it but that’s been a failed endeavour up to now.

In fact, those talks have gone on for over 18 months. Liverpool and Konate simply can’t agree on terms, presumably because the Frenchman’s contract demands are much higher than the club want to pay.

Such an impasse almost always leads to an exit but we think this could turn around quite quickly. Liverpool, after all, do need a senior centre-back for next season and there’s not actually an alternative to Konate.

There was at one stage. Liverpool have been linked with moves for Marc Guehi, Nico Schlotterbeck, Dayot Upamecano and Alessandro Bastoni as elite replacements.

Guehi, however, has since joined Manchester City. Schlotterbeck is widely expected to sign a new contract with Borussia Dortmund, while Upamecano has already re-signed with Bayern Munich.

Now Bastoni has, per Mundo Deportivo, decided that Barcelona is the club for him. He’s only interested in negotiations with them, ruling out Liverpool.

And so Konate is really looking like the best possible option for Liverpool. His negotiating power has gone through the roof as alternative after alternative is take off the table.

Surely, that ends with the club giving him what he wants.

Ibrahima Konate: Situation Summary

As of 29 March 2026, Ibrahima Konate is at a critical juncture with his Liverpool career. His contract is set to expire this June, and despite over 18 months of negotiations, no extension has been signed. Reports suggest he recently turned down an offer to stay until 2030, leading to intense speculation that he will depart as a free agent this summer.

Performance and Stats

The 26-year-old has been a pillar of the defense when healthy. Across 41 total appearances this season, he has recorded 2 goals and contributed to 9 clean sheets in the Premier League. Statistically, he remains elite in the air, winning over 70% of his aerial duels, and maintains a passing accuracy of 93%.

Injury and International Duty

Konate is currently fully fit. He played the full 90 minutes for France in a 2-1 victory over Brazil on 26 March and is available for tonight's match against Colombia. This follows a brief period of hamstring discomfort in mid-March that saw him start on the bench against Tottenham.

Transfer Outlook