Following Ben Jacobs’ report that Ibrahima Konaté will likely be moving on from Liverpool FC this summer after failing to agree on a contract extension, further details are emerging.
The Daily Mail’s beat reporter Lewis Steele chimed in, claiming it was “small details” that prevented the two sides from agreeing terms.
Daily Mail assistant sports editor Ben Wilcocks added that Paris Saint-Germain is the likely destination for Konaté should he depart.
PSG were the other real contender for Konaté’s services with Real Madrid, so this shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
One of the more obvious moves Liverpool could take to replace Konaté is Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. The German penned a contract extension recently, but it reportedly contains a release clause between €50 million and €60 million that allows him to leave for select “big” clubs like Real Madrid or Liverpool. With Madrid choosing to extend Antonio Rüdiger, it would appear the Reds would have a free run for the player should they choose to do so.
The loss of a player in his prime years, and one of the best channel defenders in the world, for a club that “sells to buy” is undoubtedly a big blow, but Konaté had also become a clear weak link in Liverpool’s offensive possesions, with opponents going as far as not to not press to give him time on the ball and force him into becoming a passer. Whilst he seemed to improve at it as the season went on, it’s still a clear deficiency that Liverpool could potentially fix now that clarity on the player’s situation is finally available.
Liverpool’s best XI, with both him and Ryan Gravenberch, two limited passers in their defensive half, surely hasn’t helped with all the criticism of slow buildup play and inability to unlock deep-block defences. So, Liverpool now have an opening to fix that. One would wish they hadn’t burned up €60 million (or thereabouts) to do it, but it is what it is with these contract disputes.
