Liverpool transfer news: Ibrahima Konate drops huge contract update after Real Madrid blow

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has revealed that helium is adjacent to signing a caller declaration astatine Anfield, a small implicit 2 months earlier helium is owed to go a escaped agent.

The France planetary entered the last six months of his existing statement successful January, meaning that helium has been escaped to clasp pre-contract talks with overseas clubs ever since the New Year rolled around.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain person some been heavy linked with a determination for Konate connected a escaped transfer, but it had been reliably reported that Los Blancos had dropped their interest successful the 26-year-old, portion Dayot Upamecano signing a caller woody astatine the Allianz Arena lessened Bayern's request for a caller defender.

With a determination to the Bernabeu nary longer feasible, Konate's campy ramped up declaration talks with Liverpool, and negotiations were understood to person been heading successful a affirmative direction.

Now, a breakthrough has either seemingly been reached oregon is imminent, arsenic Konate told reporters aft Sunday's 2-1 triumph implicit Everton successful the Merseyside derby that helium was connected the verge of an agreement.

Ibrahima Konate "close" to signing caller Liverpool contract

"For a agelong clip we person spoken with the nine and we are adjacent to an agreement," The Athletic quotes Konate arsenic saying. "I deliberation everyone wished for that for arsenic agelong arsenic imaginable but we are successful a bully way.

"For sure, determination is simply a large accidental I’m present adjacent season. This is what I ever wanted. I person a peculiar narration not lone with the fans, but with each azygous idiosyncratic who works astatine the club. It’s specified an astonishing club, astonishing family. This nine means truthful overmuch to me."

Asked wherefore helium is inactive yet to scope a afloat statement with Liverpool arsenic helium runs down the last months connected his existent deal, Konate highlighted Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's situations past year, erstwhile the brace did not officially renew until April.

"This is negotiation," the Frenchman added. "With Virgil (van Dijk) and Mo (Salah) past season, it was precisely the same. I deliberation they signed their contracts successful April and this is possibly however the nine privation it."

How large is Ibrahima Konate's declaration hold for Liverpool?

It is not wholly cynical to suggest that Konate is signing a caller woody with Liverpool due to the fact that of the deficiency of question from Real oregon Bayern; had either made a superior play for him, the concern could person turned retired precise differently.

However, nary substance what his motivations were to widen his Anfield contract, the 26-year-old renewing his presumption is immense quality for sporting manager Richard Hughes and caput manager Arne Slot - oregon whoever is successful complaint of the nine adjacent season.

Konate is entering his premier years astatine a clip wherever Van Dijk is retired of declaration successful 2027 and apt to leave, Joe Gomez's aboriginal is progressively uncertain, Giovanni Leoni is moving his mode backmost from an ACL wounded and Jeremy Jacquet is nursing a superior enarthrosis problem.

Liverpool could inactive bash with signing different established centre-back erstwhile the transportation marketplace reopens, but securing Konate's semipermanent aboriginal represents their biggest transportation triumph of the twelvemonth truthful far.

Konate has travel up with 7 goals and 4 assists successful 178 appearances for Liverpool successful each competitions since joining successful a £34.8m woody from RB Leipzig successful 2021.