Star’s Liverpool dream is OVER as Reds make bombshell decision

Liverpool appear to have called time on one star's dream. They've made a bombshell decision in a stark contrast to last year.

Liverpool have faced a difficult decision in the background all season long with Ibrahima Konate's contract. The Frenchman's deal expires in the summer but talks to get a new one agreed have been slow at best.

In fact, they've largely looked stagnant as Liverpool struggled to find common ground with the defender. Konate has wanted a big-money deal to reflect what he sees as a leading role in the team.

But the Reds haven't wanted to pay him on par with the likes of Virgil van Dijk. As key as Konate is, he's not Van Dijk - no one is.

That's been a stalemate, then. Liverpool want Konate to remain at Anfield and the player would prefer that, too, by all accounts. But only for the kind of money he feels he's worth and that means a large pay rise.

Liverpool end that dream

Christian Falk reports in his Insider column that Liverpool have now given Konate an ultimatum. If he doesn't agree a new contract soon, they'll simply change course and look to offload him in January.

It's an admittance that they feel he can be replaced and that he isn't worth the kind of money he's asking for. They've essentially removed Konate's negotiating high ground, saying that they're now more willing to lose him early and disrupt the team than they are giving him what he's after.

Liverpool famously didn't take that stance with Trent Alexander-Arnold a year ago. They were willing to reject Real Madrid's January transfer offer and continue to try and renew his deal. They outright admitted that they were competing for trophies and didn't want to lose a star player.

There is no such feeling with Konate. He either accepts the offer for the range Liverpool want him at or they'll simply move on, looking to sell and replace in the summer.

Konate's dream of being paid like a superstar at Anfield appears to be well and truly over.

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