Liverpool currently sit fifth in the Premier League with 52 points from 32 matches, and the season has started to dissipate in recent weeks. The club suffered a 1-2 defeat at Brighton, a 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester City, and then a 2-0 first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, three results that have put Arne Slot’s side under a microscope.
They managed to stop the bleeding with a 2-0 home win over Fulham on 11 April, which gave them some breathing room, but they lost the second leg 2-0 at home against PSG yet again. While results on the pitch have been up and down, a major concern is growing behind the scenes involving a key part of Slot’s defence.
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What exactly is holding up the Ibrahima Konaté deal?
Fabrizio Romano went into detail on the Ibrahima Konaté contract situation on his YouTube channel, clearing up his earlier comments that a deal was moving toward the final stages. He made it clear that advancing and done are two different things; done means everything is signed and legally official, which hasn’t happened yet.
“Done means agreed, signed, approved by lawyers on both club and player side, and that’s not the case yet.
“Why advanced? Because the numbers of the contract are almost okay when it’s about the salary. “So the agreement on those numbers is quite okay, but there are some small details, but still important, to clarify between Konate and Liverpool.
“Those details are regarding some clauses in the contract. I’m not talking about release clauses, I’m talking about specific clauses that they are discussing.
“A clause in the contract can be, for example, bonuses linked to trophies. So the guaranteed salary is almost okay, but there are some clauses to clarify, that’s why the contract is not green light, signed tomorrow.
“That’s the point, but advancing to important stages in the recent weeks.”
While the salary numbers between Konaté and Liverpool are mostly settled, specific contract details, likely performance bonuses tied to winning trophies, are still being debated. NBC Sports journalist David Ornstein also reported that Konaté’s situation remains stuck, with the centre-back set to become a free agent this summer unless something changes.
Losing him for nothing would be a massive blow given what he adds to the team. According to Footy Stats, Konaté kept 10 clean sheets and conceded 31 goals across 30 Premier League games this season, averaging 1.67 tackles and 0.80 interceptions per 90 minutes, along with 5.56 clearances per game. He is a defender Liverpool simply cannot afford to lose.
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Can Liverpool afford to let this drag on any longer?
Liverpool are heading into a crucial run of games while this situation hangs over them, and they need clarity soon. A defender with Konaté’s talent, physical, calm, and reliable in big European games, is hard to find, and letting this drag on helps no one. Since the wages are mostly agreed on, the standoff over bonus clauses feels even more frustrating for fans.
Liverpool’s top-four hopes are already on thin ice, and they are now knocked out of the UCL. Losing focus, or worse, losing Konaté, because of a messy contract dispute, would be a total own goal. Both sides seem to know that getting a deal done is the best move, and that should eventually push it over the line. However, the longer these small but important details stay up in the air, the higher the risk that another club might quietly step in.
Lets buy from French league. Its physically, strong players. Otherwise than bundesliga. In germany, they play high pressing football. With lightweight technically gifted players, so they have To often go To Gym To compete prem. And going ggym so much, you could loose something else