Richard Hughes set to RESPOND to Ibrahima Konate contract demands

Liverpool have spent the best part of a year trying to extend Ibrahima Konate's contract and yet we're still awaiting his decision as the Frenchman is continuing to weigh up his options.

In turn, the Reds will need to respond and resolve the situation before things start to get out of hand.

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The choices are simple; we either find a way for him to commit his future to us long-term, we allow him to run down his contract and leave for free, or we sell him and replace him this summer.

Fans are hoping for one of the first two options to be agreed, but the club still hasn't made a decision.

Discussions are still underway

According to L'Equipe, no one has made their mind up yet and Liverpool still have hope to keep him.

Their latest report said: "Discussions between Liverpool's management and Ibrahima Konate's representatives continue. Negotiations were paused but re-started in May and June with counter offers from both sides. Richard Hughes is aware of Konate's demands and must now provide an answer."

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As such, it will now be a matter of working out whether the current wage bill structure can adhere to what the Frenchman expects to be paid and if Liverpool share the valuation he has of himself.

Now he's 26 years old, we're in a place where the club would be getting the best years of his career, and as an experienced international, losing him for free is not going to be an option. In the current market, he's would sell as an incredibly expensive asset, but not in his current circumstances.

Letting him go in the future would certainly be an option, but we're far from close to considering that.

In terms of sheer numbers, losing Konate this summer would be incredibly damaging. Now that Jarell Quansah has been sold to Leverkusen, we already need to bring a new centre-back into the team.

Replacing the Frenchman would require two new centre-backs to be bought and the club has already signed a new left-back and a new right-back, which would almost definitely be too much change.

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So the situation is clear. At least convince him to stay beyond this summer and if required, contract negotiations can continue into the new season. But after the whirlwind experience the fans were left in last season, it's clear that which circumstances those connected to the club would prefer.

Rumours about a possible free transfer to Real Madrid next summer aren't helping things and if he intends to stay on Merseyside for years to come, then we cannot let another situation unfold.

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