Liverpool get Ibrahima Konate answer over latest offer

Liverpool have got a problem to solve over Ibrahima Konate. The 26-year-old defender is out of contract in 2026 having joined the club on an initial five-year deal from RB Leipzig back in 2021.

The Reds have been waiting a while to see the Frenchman at his consistent best - and it wasn’t until last season that he really established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s undisputed central defensive partner.

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However, Real Madrid are lying in wait for Konate, who now has less than 12 months on his current deal. It’s no secret that sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot would prefer to keep Konate around long term.

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But the indications are that he currently would like a free transfer to Real Madrid in 2026.

Konate turns down Liverpool offer

Konate’s current contract is reported to be worth in the region of £140k per week - and the centre-back was previously reported to want £200k per week in any renewal.

But now there are no guarantees that he would even sign a new contract on those terms at this stage. Because it’s been reported by transfer expert Nicolo Schira that Konate has REJECTED Liverpool’s latest attempts to tie him to a new deal.

“Ibrahima Konaté has turned down Liverpool’s bid to extend his contract until 2030,” he writes on X.

“His contract with #LFC currently expires in 2026.”

Liverpool need to recoup some money for Konate

Where that leaves Konate’s future is anyone’s guess. It would appear Liverpool have two options and neither is ideal. Either they sell Konate for an acceptable fee this summer or else they lose him for free next summer.

The Reds paid Leipzig £35m for Konate - and so it would be a bitter blow to see him walk out the door for nothing. If Liverpool can come to an arrangement with Real Madrid therefore it might be best for all concerned if Konate goes this summer.

Guehi a potential replacement for Konate

That would allow Hughes to inject that transfer fee into a deal for a replacement - with Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace a pretty attractive option.

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He too is out of contract in 2026 and available for perhaps a fraction of his true transfer value. If Liverpool were to lose Konate and fund a move for the England international then they could be making the best of a less than ideal situation.