Ibrahima Konaté has confirmed that he is the latest Liverpool player to delay signing a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 18 months. The club offered the France international an extension over three months ago, but he has yet to sign the agreement.
With key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold also approaching the final six months of their contracts, Liverpool finds itself in a delicate position, as these players are free to negotiate with foreign clubs for a pre-contract agreement.
When asked if a new deal was on the table, Konaté responded affirmatively, but when asked if he was close to finalizing the contract, he stated, “This is another conversation.” The 25-year-old further explained that he had not been ready for contract talks a few months ago, but he has since had discussions with the club. “I am really focused on what happens now,” he said. “We will see what will happen.”
The £36m signing from RB Leipzig has formed a solid defensive partnership with Van Dijk this season, with many considering it one of the best central defensive duos in Europe. Konaté expressed admiration for Van Dijk’s quality, calling him the best in the position. “I learned a lot from him and other players like [Joël] Matip and Joe Gomez,” Konaté stated. “I’ve always said I want to be better than him one day, and that is why I work hard to reach this level.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool is preparing for a crucial Champions League clash against Lille, needing just one point from the final two group-stage games to secure qualification for the knockout rounds. Lille, who have impressed with wins over Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and others, currently occupy the final automatic qualification spot in the group.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot emphasized the importance of maintaining their 100% record in the competition but noted that finishing top of the group might not be the advantage it seems due to the new Champions League format. “It’s impossible to say that finishing No 1 will guarantee an easier opponent,” Slot said. “Because of the strange league table, you could face a team like Paris Saint-Germain, who are low in the table, but that does not reflect their quality.”
In other team news, Slot confirmed that Diogo Jota will miss several weeks due to a muscle injury he sustained in Liverpool’s recent match against Nottingham Forest.
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