Liverpool lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, their third consecutive defeat across all competitions. After that, the Reds dropped to second position in the Premier League, trailing Arsenal. One of the causes for the decline in performance is their ongoing injury crisis.
During the summer transfer window, Liverpool made significant investments to bolster Arne Slot’s team, as they look to retain the Premier League title. However, recently, there has been some speculation regarding one of their players’ future at Anfield.
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate’s contract is going to expire at the end of this season, and he still hasn’t reached an agreement with the club to sign a new one. Furthermore, there have been rumours linking him to Real Madrid since the beginning of the summer. He is reportedly on their shortlist.
However, Football Insider report that Liverpool are locked in talks with Konate in order to extend his contract and keep him at Anfield beyond this season. Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, transfer expert Pete O’Rourke explained: “Liverpool are still in negotiations with Konate and his representatives over a new contract.
“They are hoping that he will end the speculation about his future by signing a new deal at Anfield, but obviously Real Madrid are ready to move if he does run down his contract.”
Liverpool locked in talks with star player amid Real Madrid interest in signing him
The France international is still a vital component of Slot’s plans despite his disappointing start to the season, especially given the club’s lack of defensive depth. Furthermore, having a high-quality teammate like Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk has been critical and beneficial to the Reds.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool and Konate will put an end to the speculation by agreeing a new contract, or if the centre-back will look for a new club soon. Only time will tell.
It is worth noting that Liverpool did almost sign Marc Guehi in the summer transfer window and are expected to reignite that interest in the future. Is he being viewed as a replacement for Konate or just another depth option?
Ankan Bhowmick