Arne Slot makes HUGE Richard Hughes contract demand

Liverpool are still in the midst of a landmark summer transfer campaign. The Reds have spent close to £300m since winning the Premier League title on new players.

Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Giorgi Mamardashvili have all come through the door for the champions.

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And to balance the books, sporting director Richard Hughes has also overseen the departures of several first-team players.

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That list is headed by Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez - while Jarell Quansah, Ben Doak, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Nat Phillips have also left.

Konate future uncertain

But Liverpool are by no means done.

We could see Alexander Isak arrive as the club’s new No9 before the window is out - although Newcastle have not yet agreed to release their star striker.

Marc Guehi is another who could arrive - with the Crystal Palace captain out of contract in 2026. Part of the reason that Liverpool are interested in the England international is that Ibrahima Konate is in the same boat.

Under contract until 2026, Liverpool are unsure whether the France defender will be at the club next season.

Arne Slot wants to keep Konate

Accordingly there have been suggestions that the 26-year-old could either be sold this summer or else replaced by Guehi on a Bosman in 2026.

However according to a new report in Defensa Central, Liverpool are NOT giving up on Konate - and Arne Slot in particular is doing all he can to ensure the title-winning stopper stays.

“Arne Slot has asked his directors for an extra effort to prevent the Frenchman from leaving Anfield,” the report reads.

Konate signed for Liverpool back in 2021 from RB Leipzig but has only come into his own as a bonafide top-class player in the last 12 months or so.

Konate's sizeable contract demands

He earns around £140k per week on his current contract - and it’s been reported that he wants £200k per week to renew. Of course Real Madrid can not only offer a blockbuster salary but also a sizeable signing-on fee - estimated at €18m.

The financial lure is strong but the indications are that Slot is asking his club to pull out all the stops to prevent Konate from leaving.

Madrid don’t intend to make any more signings this summer - and with Konate able to speak to overseas clubs about a free transfer in January, we are moving into a critical juncture over his future.

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