Liverpool set to lose rapid star who's 4th-fastest in the Champions League

Liverpool are currently set to lose a key star. He's rapid - the fourth-fastest in his position in the UEFA Champions League.

There can be little doubt that Liverpool will face some sore goodbyes this summer. The old guard are being swapped out for new faces - a process that started dramatically last summer.

We saw Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Kostas Tsimikas, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Harvey Elliott all leave the club. Players who have spent years in the senior setup and made their marks in massive ways.

We’ll now see even more leave. Andy Robertson’s contract expires in the summer. Mo Salah is heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Even Alisson Becker’s contract technically expires in 2026 - though, there’s an option to extend it by one more year.

And then there’s Ibrahima Konate. His deal also comes up with the campaign’s end and he’s currently set to leave the club.

It would be a massive loss.

Ibrahima Konate's contract

Liverpool almost certainly want to renew Konate's contract if only because there's no clear replacement. Marc Guehi was one option but he's joined Manchester City. Another option, Dayot Upamecano, has re-signed with Bayern Munich.

It means there's no clear replacement who could arrive without a massive transfer fee. And the transfer fee for any replacement would be massive.

After all, few can do what Konate does. CIES Football Observatory have him down as the fourth-fastest centre-back in the UEFA Champions League this season, for one.

Boasting that kind of pace alongside a dominant aerial prowess and an ability to play on the ball? Konate is, at his best, a near-unicorn. Honestly, Liverpool are incredibly fortunate that one of the few players who can match his overall game happens to play alongside him as captain.

But as things stand, he's off. Liverpool simply must sort this situation because they're heading into a very difficult problem with no clear answer.

Ultimately, it may prove best to just pay Konate what he wants. Any potential replacement will certainly want it.

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