Konate Breaks Silence on Liverpool Contract Extension Speculation
Ibrahima Konaté states that media reports suggesting Liverpool have presented him with a new contract offer come as a surprise to him, though he hopes to clarify his future intentions in the near future.
The 26-year-old Konaté has been the subject of widespread speculation in recent months, as he has yet to agree to an extension of his current deal at Anfield. The French defender's existing contract expires at the season's end—creating the possibility that he might follow Trent Alexander-Arnold's example by departing the Premier League titleholders as a free agent.
Konaté would be eligible to enter discussions with foreign clubs as soon as January, when he enters the final half-year of his agreement. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, the previous season's Champions League victors, have consistently been mentioned as possible destinations, while speculation regarding interest from German powerhouse Bayern Munich has emerged in recent weeks.
Negotiations are reportedly ongoing with all three clubs regarding a potential summer departure, with Konaté's representatives clearly examining the available opportunities for the former RB Leipzig center-back.
During his time with the French national team, reports of an ultimatum-style contract proposal were presented to Konaté—but his response indicated that no such offer has been made.
Konaté: There Is No Agreement With Liverpool
"I've noticed numerous reports," Konaté informed journalists. "Liverpool have allegedly presented me with a fresh offer, though I'm uncertain about the source of this information.
"My representatives continue to hold talks with Liverpool. I'm hopeful my choice will be finalized shortly so I can make an announcement."
Liverpool's previous experience of losing Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid last summer—for a minimal fee that enabled the versatile defender to join the club before the Club World Cup—has prompted them to secure new deals with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, but finalizing a contract with Konaté remains challenging.
The Reds have been actively working to strengthen their defensive options, potentially anticipating Konaté's departure in June, given his inconsistent performances in the early part of the 2025–26 campaign. Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi was their main summer target, but a late complication caused a £35 million ($46 million) deal to fall through at the final stage.
As a result, Liverpool no longer have an exclusive opportunity with Guéhi. Like Konaté, his contract expires in the summer and reports indicate that every top club is monitoring his situation—including Madrid, Barcelona and PSG. Unfortunately for Liverpool, they cannot enter contract discussions with Guéhi in January like overseas clubs, but might attempt to convince Palace to sell mid-season despite Eagles chairman Steve Parish's previous statements ruling this out.
Dayot Upamecano represents another possibility for Liverpool—he's also a prominent center-back whose contract expires in the summer, coincidentally at Bayern.