Overview
- Ibrahima Konate said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Everton that contract talks are close and there is a big chance he remains at Liverpool next season, with no formal announcement yet.
- Konate urged sporting director Richard Hughes to address why the deal has taken months and said Liverpool often finalizes major extensions late, citing Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah last year.
- An extension would ease pressure to buy another senior centre-back, with Jeremy Jacquet already agreed from Rennes for about £60m and teenager Giovanni Leoni due back from an ACL injury next season.
- Konate said he is ready to take on a larger leadership role as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are expected to leave this summer and Van Dijk enters the final year of his contract.
- He described a difficult season that included his father’s death in January and said he returned early from compassionate leave to help the team as they push to secure Champions League qualification.