Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Liverpool could be closing in on agreeing a new contract with one current Reds player.
Fans have been nervously awaiting significant news on Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, whose existing deals all expire in just over eight months’ time, but it’s one of their teammates who looks set to put pen to paper first.
Romano shares Liverpool contract update
In an update on his YouTube channel, Romano outlined that talks over a new contract for Ibrahima Konate are progressing well and that club and player merely need to thrash out a few more details before the Frenchman signs on the dotted line, which he’s more than happy to do.
The Italian transfer guru explained: “Liverpool are making very good progress in negotiations with Ibrahima Konate. The expectation at Liverpool is that Ibou Konate will be the next one to reach an agreement on a new contract. The salary is almost agreed; it’s about some details of the contract.
“There are more things to clarify with the player and his agents, but Ibou Konate is very happy at Liverpool. He can feel how important he is for Liverpool and also for the new manager Arne Slot. Ibou Konate is fully expected to sign a new deal at Liverpool.”
Konate has been a key player for Liverpool this season
For many Liverpool fans, there are more pressing contractual matters which need addressing urgently, but it’s still pleasant to hear that Konate seems close to extending his deal at Anfield, which at present runs to 2026.
The 25-year-old endured a difficult end to last season but has looked revitalised under Slot, being thrown into the fray at half-time against Ipswich on the opening day of the Premier League campaign and not looking back since then.
With averages of 3.6 successful aerial duels, 3.4 clearances and 0.7 blocks, the Frenchman ranks second in the Reds’ squad for each of those metrics, while he also has the second-best passing success rate (91.5%) of anyone to start more than one top-flight match for us so far this term (WhoScored)
Those figures all underline how vital an impact he’s had over the past couple of months, and he’s even chipped in with two goals, putting him halfway towards meeting his personal target for the season.
We’re all still waiting on contract news on Salah, Trent and Van Dijk, but it represents a smart move to get Konate tied down so that next year he doesn’t find himself in the same ‘will-he-won’t-he’ situation as that trio of teammates.
You can view Romano’s update on Konate below (from 5:38), via Fabrizio Romano on YouTube:
It’s great news that Ibou is close to signing a new contract but what we really need is progress on TAA, VVD and Mo. I really struggle to comprehend the incompetence involved in allowing arguably our 3 most talented and therefore valuable out field players to get this far into the final year of their contracts.
Totally agreed with you David I think the biggest issue is with Trent,I think his head is turned,it’s just lately his body language,and he is glued to Jude,as for mo,van I think we will hold onto them,as both have came out and said they want to stay but Trent I’m not sure,but why Liverpool even got themselves into this situation letting these players go into there final contract crazy let’s hope we hold on to all 3 ,and then add 2/3 players tops so we have that bench of stars and you might not agree with me but Darwin has to go ,or he needs to prove himself this year but being linked with that lad from shak don so it’s going to be interesting the next few months let’s hope
To be fair, a new manager has come in, and these 3 players had no idea what to expect after being welded into world beaters by Jurgen. I’m not surprised that they held off to see how Slot would fit in. I think that they will see that the club is moving in the right direction and sign on the dotted line. Hope so anyway, but also remember the club is bigger than any player and we all love Liverpool!