Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has revealed that he is close to agreeing a new contract with the club, strongly suggesting that he expects to remain at Anfield beyond the current season.
The 26 year old France international, whose existing deal is due to expire at the end of the campaign, had recently been linked with a possible move to Real Madrid. However, Konate has now indicated that talks with Liverpool have been progressing well for some time and that an agreement may not be far away.
Speaking after Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton on Sunday, Konate said discussions with the club had been ongoing for a long period and were moving in the right direction. He added that there was a strong possibility he would still be at Liverpool next season, stressing that this had always been his intention.
The centre back also suggested there was more to the situation than had been reported publicly, hinting that conversations had taken place with sporting director Richard Hughes months before speculation over his future intensified.
Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 in a deal worth £36 million and has since become an important figure in the side. Alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, he has formed one of the club’s key defensive partnerships and has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, two League Cups and the FA Cup, while also finishing as runners-up in the Champions League.
Despite the positive signs over his contract, Konate was candid in his assessment of Liverpool’s season. With the club out of the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, and sitting fifth in the Premier League with five matches left, he admitted the campaign had fallen below the standards expected at Anfield.
Konate said finishing in the top four alone would not be enough to satisfy Liverpool, underlining the level of ambition within the club. He also made clear the emotional bond he feels with the Reds, describing Liverpool as an amazing club and an amazing family, and insisting that it means a great deal to him.
