Liverpool set ULTIMATUM over contract rebel’s future

Liverpool have inadvertently made a big call with regard to the future of one of their players.

The decision that's been reached focuses around a transfer target and in turn, a current Red has had one of their available options taken off the table. The club have decided their stance and it's strong.

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In order to alleviate any doubt, the target is Crystal Palace's captain Marc Guehi whom Liverpool missed out on signing on deadline day last week. It's since been decided that while the Reds still appreciate the centre-back, he will not be approached in January, only in June when he's free.

This call is a financially sensible one because paying for the privilege of signing a player six months earlier than when he's available is difficult to get your head around. The £35m that the Eagles were offered was declined and so no money will go into their pockets for his eventual departure.

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But in turn, one of the Reds' contract rebels has been given an ultimatum regarding his future.

No move in January for Konate

Liverpool have started the new Premier League season with four centre-backs and the decision to wait until Guehi is available next summer suggests that no one will be allowed to leave until then.

Of course, Ibrahima Konate is directly impacted by that call because he might have been open to signing for a new club during the winter, allowing Liverpool to take a fee for him before he also goes on a free contract in the summer, following the expiration of his current contract.

But the club has decided that it's best to alleviate all doubt this time around and put the pressure on the Frenchman by giving him and themselves an ultimatum - re-sign with us, or leave for free.

Liverpool have been engaged in contract talks for 10 months now, as negotiations started back in November 2024, although a resolution still isn't likely to happen any time soon. Hope remains that he might continue with the Arne Slot project, but if he wants to leave for fee, then we can't stop him.

Trent Alexander-Arnold had a similar plan in mind last year, to join Real Madrid with a signing bonus rather than having the money go on a transfer fee. It appears Konate might follow in his footsteps.

Speaking to the French TV broadcaster TeleFoot, he said: "[Kylian] Mbappe pressuring me to join Real Madrid? He calls me every two hours! [Laughs]."

Of course, for Liverpool fans, this isn't really a laughing matter. He's an important member of the team and losing him for free is the stuff of nightmares, but Liverpool have laid their stall out and if Konate isn't interested in sticking around beyond this season, then by all means he should go.

Ideally, the situation will be resolved sooner rather than later, but one of the main themes of this saga has been how long it's been allowed to ramble on for so far. All we can be certain about is that the club won't cripple itself by sanctioning a January move, since his replacement in Guehi won't join.

It all now depends on what his intentions are and it's not straightforward to read between the lines.

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