Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is in the last year of his contract with the Reds who are pushing to land to new center halves while making a decision about the Frenchman
Liverpool has no plans to sell Ibrahima Konate, even if they are successful in bringing in two new central defenders – with a deal for Crystal Palace Captain Marc Guehi Close.
The Frenchman has started the last 12 months of his contract and can leave for nothing next summer if things are. The Reds have just seen Trent Alexander-Arnold run out and will be determined to prevent a repetition.
Konate is interesting Real Madrid given his contract status and his peak years remain for him. Liverpool could look in cash this summer – just as Palace believes that they have little alternative when it comes to Guehi – but that is not the plan at Anfield. Arne Slot has had a summer interest in Guehi, who just led the Eagles to FA Cup and Community Shield Success.
They also work on a deal for Parma's Giovanni Leoni, seen as a project for the future if they can beat Inter Milan against his signature. But Konate remains an integral part of their plans and any newcomers are not to compensate for a potential departure.
Slot was questioned about his resources in the heart of the defense after he had seen Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez leave.
The Dutchman believes that he has sufficient coverage, but there is no doubt that the club would act if a deal was available – what Guehi seems to be for sure. His contract situation means that Palace cannot demand enormous reimbursement and their chairman Steve Parish admits that they may have to cash in.
He said: “For players of that caliber to leave for free, it is unfortunately a problem for us. We will just have to see what is happening. But you know, it needs a new contract or a kind of conclusion.”
Konate rejected Liverpool's first offer from an extension, but more negotiations are expected. His contract discussions were delayed last year when the club's bosses paid their attention to retaining Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
The former RB Leipzig -defender is considered disappointed by the structure of Liverpool's offer, with his representatives who were thought to insist on a higher basic wage after the offer was largely based on achieving performance goals, which would have been crucial for his earning capacity.