Ibrahima Konate suffers ANOTHER brutal setback

Ibrahima Konate has suffered another setback. It's a brutal one for the Liverpool star.

Ibrahima Konate's contract expires in the summer and there aren't too many signs that he's going to agree a new one. The Frenchman has been in talks with Liverpool for a year now - but that deal remains unsigned.

There's a split between the two, essentially. Liverpool absolutely want to renew Konate's deal but only for the money they value him at.

The defender feels he's entitled to a big contract as he's in his prime years and fully established as an elite defender. It's a complicated one, too, as Konate will want to position himself as Liverpool's main defender post-Virgil van Dijk.

His next contract would secure him that role but while the Reds may be happy for him to be that, they won't want to pay him as well as they're currently paying Van Dijk.

That leaves Konate with some options. He could reduce his demands, signing for Liverpool at the salary they're willing to pay.

Or he could leverage the fact that several other teams are looking for centre-backs right now. That's a good way to drive up your value - create competition between major clubs.

Only, that isn't working.

Ibrahima Konate suffers blow

There's no question that Konate has chosen the second option there. He wants to drive up his value but it's not really working for him just yet.

Real Madrid reportedly alerted Liverpool to their lack of interest in signing Konate. That took the major option off the table for him.

His real hope was a report that Dayot Upamecano would be staying with Bayern Munich. That eliminated his major competition for a summer move - but it's not going smoothly.

Foot Mercato now reports that Upamecano may not stay after all. Both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are still pushing to sign him and it seems both are willing to offer more than Bayern.

That distracts two clubs that Konate will hope to play off of Liverpool. PSG actually feel like the most likely option for him, in fact, but they're focusing on his compatriot.

If that doesn't change, Konate may be left with no option but Liverpool. Possibly Bayern as well but they're unlikely to offer the kind of money he clearly wants.

It's another blow for him, then. These contract talks are just not going to plan.

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