{"id":526644,"date":"2025-10-25T08:50:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T08:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/526644\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T08:50:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T08:50:21","slug":"liverpool-set-for-crunch-contract-talks-with-ibrahima-konate-as-soft-deadline-is-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/526644\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool set for crunch contract talks with Ibrahima Konate as soft deadline is set"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exclusive with Graeme Bailey<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liverpool are set for key talks with Ibrahima Konate over a contract extension during the November international break, Rousing The Kop understands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Konate\u2019s deal will expire at the end of the current season, with the Frenchman free to sign a pre-agreement with clubs in Europe from January onwards.<\/p>\n

Liverpool<\/a> have been speaking with Konate<\/a>\u2018s camp over an extension for much of the past year, although RTK understands talks have remained deadlocked for some months.<\/p>\n

\"mailJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis. <\/p>\n

The Reds had hoped to finally come to an arrangement with the centre-back during the October pause in play, but sources have told RTK that things did not progress during that time.<\/p>\n

Instead, Liverpool and Konate\u2019s representatives are ready to return to the table in November, with a mutual understanding that it may be a final roll of the dice.<\/p>\n

\"IbrahimaPhoto by Carl Recine\/Getty ImagesLiverpool still hopeful of Ibrahima Konate extension<\/p>\n

Konate has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid<\/a>, and RTK understands that the Spanish giants will be in the mix should he leave Anfield<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n

However, Konate\u2019s exit is not seen as an inevitability at Liverpool, with senior figures still believing he could yet sign new terms.<\/p>\n

There is an appreciation that things need to progress soon, though, and RTK has been told that the November talks are being viewed as a soft deadline for Konate.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Liverpool insiders give clue over Mohamed Salah\u2019s Anfield future after social media storm \u2013 EXCLUSIVE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Should a breakthrough fail to be made once again, Liverpool are likely to begin accepting that the France international will leave on a free transfer.<\/p>\n

For the time being, RTK has been told that insiders at Anfield are currently not leaning one way or another, with all options remaining on the table.<\/p>\n

The predicament is seen as being different to that of Trent Alexander-Arnold last season, when the former right-back was set on a move to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

Konate\u2019s situation is being viewed as one that could still change, but there is belief rather than confidence that a deal can be struck.<\/p>\n

Liverpool assessing centre-back market<\/p>\n

Regardless of what eventually happens with Konate, RTK understands that Liverpool are ready to sign at least one new centre-back in 2026.<\/p>\n

A deal for Marc Guehi remains possible, and could even be moved forward to January if the Reds feel there is a need to reinforce mid-season.<\/p>\n

However, Guehi is far from being the only player on Liverpool\u2019s radar. Should Konate leave, they are likely to bring in two new faces.<\/p>\n

The likes of Murillo and Jarrad Branthwaite could still come into the equation, with Liverpool fully aware of which players are likely to be available in 2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Exclusive with Graeme Bailey. Liverpool are set for key talks with Ibrahima Konate over a contract extension during…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":526645,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[748,393,560,10265,4884,10307,179,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-526644","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-exclusives","11":"tag-graeme-bailey","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-ibrahima-konate","14":"tag-liverpool","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115433952502473869","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=526644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/526645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=526644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=526644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=526644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}