Konaté's Shocking Liverpool Contract Demands Finally Exposed

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté is allegedly pursuing a new deal that would place him among the club's highest-paid players.

Konaté has entered the final year of his current deal, and negotiations for a renewal have yet to produce a breakthrough. Real Madrid are monitoring the situation closely, hoping to secure another high-profile free transfer—a situation Liverpool experienced firsthand when Trent Alexander-Arnold moved to the Santiago Bernabéu this past summer.

Discussions between Liverpool and Konaté continue but remain far from reaching a successful conclusion. Importantly, however, David Ornstein indicates that the French defender has not officially rejected a contract offer.

The negotiations have focused on Konaté's wages, which are understood to be considerably higher than the commonly cited figure of £70,000 ($94,000). In fact, his actual compensation is thought to exceed twice that reported amount.

This wage disparity explains why extension discussions have been particularly challenging. Konaté is pursuing a salary increase that would place him alongside players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool's top earning bracket.

Prospects for a resolution haven't been completely dismissed, but Konaté and Liverpool appear to be at an impasse currently, leaving the Reds exposed as he nears the final six months of his agreement.

Madrid can begin official talks with Konaté starting in January, having already expressed their interest in securing his signature through unofficial channels.

However, recent reports suggest that Madrid's leadership isn't unanimous regarding a potential Konaté acquisition, with some within the organization questioning whether he's the ideal candidate. This contrasts sharply with last season's Alexander-Arnold pursuit, which was viewed as an obvious decision by all parties involved.

Konaté's recent performances have been disappointing and have drawn criticism from Liverpool supporters, though manager Arne Slot reminded fans that the Frenchman isn't the only player who has underperformed this season.