Ibrahima Konate could still sign a new Liverpool deal in the coming weeks in a shock twist, sources have told Football Insider.
The Frenchman is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season, and there has been heavy speculation that he is nearing his final months in the Premier League.
Football Insider revealed back in November that Liverpool were ready to accelerate their plans to replace Konate next summer, but sources have now suggested that they may have to backtrack on those intentions.
The situations surrounding Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah have dominated the headlines on Merseyside over the last few weeks, but the saga over Konate’s future could yet be set to take another twist.
Still a chance’ of Ibrahima Konate extension as Real Madrid interest fades
Football Insider revealed last week that Liverpool will accept a bid of £15million for Konate if they are able to sign a replacement for him this winter, but that hinges on the assumption that he continues to reject a new deal.
The centre-back and his camp have already knocked back several attempts from the Reds to try and secure his future, but it could yet prove to be a different story this time around.
Sources have indicated to Football Insiderthat Liverpool are once again in “ongoing talks” with Konate over the possibility of a new deal as the all-important January window approaches on the horizon.
The 25-year-old is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a club in Europe as soon as the January window opens, but it is understood that “there is still a chance” that he could extend his stay at Anfield.
PSG and Bayern Munich have both been heavily linked with a move for him, while Real Madridhave slowly stepped away from him in recent weeks.
Arne Slot to be the driving force behind Konate exit at Liverpool
Slot criticised Konate after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds on Saturday evening, in what was another sub-par display from his usually world-class star.
The explosive Salah interview from after the game has arguably detracted from the Konate situation a little, but it is clear that the manager is growing hugely frustrated with his performances.
With that in mind, if his form doesn’t improve in the coming weeks, then Slot may actually welcome the chance to move Konate on and refresh his centre-back group by bringing in a new face.
FSG and the board have stood by the Dutchman in relation to both his own future and the Salah spat, so it would be no surprise to see them take his side again in the Konate saga.
As a result, if Liverpool are to ultimately allow Konate to walk away, then Slot will likely have been a driving force behind that decision
.
