Ibrahima Konate contract decision IMMINENT | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konate contract conundrum

And it doesn’t get any easier for Richard Hughes.

Ibrahima Konate is out of contract in 2026 and already there is speculation over what his future might hold.

There is no doubt that Liverpool would like to hold onto the 25-year-old, but his wage demands have been reported at £200k per week.

That would place the France international in the upper echelons of Liverpool earners and there are no indications the club will renew for that kind of money.

So the possibility of Konate walking away in 2026 - for nothing - remains strong.

And guess who is looking to sign him on a free transfer next year? It’s Real Madrid. The 15-time European champions have got plans to sign Konate on a free transfer, leaving Liverpool in an awkward situation.

If they fail to tie the central defender down to a new contract then they risk losing him for nothing. So Hughes has got to weigh up whether or not to SELL him this summer in order to get a fee in the market.

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Konate decision incoming

Whatever happens, there will be no repeat of the Trent situation - with Ouest France now reporting that Konate’s future will be decided in a matter of weeks.

“Konaté is under contract with Liverpool until 2026, but has not yet decided on the next steps in his career,” a report reads.

“While PSG is closely monitoring his situation, Real Madrid, for its part, is reportedly considering waiting until his contract expires to sign him on a free transfer, similar to what happened with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“Aware of the danger, the Reds' management intends to intensify discussions to extend their defender's contract. No decision has yet been made, but a conclusion is expected in the coming weeks.”