Insane contract demand is a BOMBSHELL for Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate has some thinking to do after an incredible contract demand was reported. The Frenchman’s deal expires at the end of the season.

Ibrahima Konate has been in contract talks with Liverpool for some time now but they don't appear to be going anywhere. At least, he's showing no signs of agreeing to the Reds' terms.

Because make no mistake - Liverpool want Konate to renew. It's far easier for them to lock down a player they know and one who has proven himself to be a title-winning defender.

That's the nice option. The difficult option is losing Konate without a transfer fee and needing to pivot to someone else. It would be nice to find a replacement who's also out of contract but also unrealistic.

Though, there are two. Marc Guehi is the standout for Liverpool as a homegrown player who had actually agreed to move to Anfield in the summer.

Crystal Palace collapsed that deal but they won't be able to stop Guehi joining Liverpool if he chooses to next summer. Similarly, Dayot Upamecano is available with the end of his own contract in 2026.

The three of them are in high demand and there are plenty of clubs seeking centre-backs. Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are all knowingly in the hunt.

But an incredible demand changes things for everyone. Especially Konate.

Ibrahima Konate's status

German outlet TZ reports that Dayot Upamecano is asking Bayern for a gigantic contract. He wants a basic salary of €16m in order to remain with them, with an extra €2m in bonuses on top of that.

That’s not all, though. Upamecano is chasing a €65m release clause in his deal - so he wants to remain with Bayern but retain freedom to leave anyway.

It’s a power play as Upamecano has likely figured out that he’s the most-wanted of the three contracts. Real Madrid supposedly told Liverpool that they aren’t pursuing Konate, while Foot Mercato claims that both Madrid and PSG are pushing hard to sign the Bayern star.

But a contract demand like that changes things. If only because we’re not sure Bayern will want to pay that. We’re not sure PSG and Real Madrid will be, either.

Upamecano is banking on at least one of them saying yes. Konate, though, now has a chance to position himself as the better-value option - a different international centre-back from a top club who doesn’t want that kind of money.

That’s not good news for Liverpool, who could see increased competition for their player on the back of Upamecano’s demands. At the same time, the situation with this race keeps on changing and we expect it to do so again, especially when the transfer window opens next month.

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