Liverpool shaken as contract talks with key player hit a snag
Ibrahima Konate has played his last game for Liverpool after they couldn’t agree on a new contract, according to reports. This happened just days after the club’s new £60 million centre-back talked about his move.
For months, Konate and his agents have been discussing a new deal with Liverpool. Back in April, the 27-year-old said he was close to signing. “There are many things people have said, but we have been talking with the club for a long time and are close to an agreement,” he shared. “There’s a big chance I’ll be here next season. That’s what I’ve always wanted.”
At that time, Konate said the talks were going well. But on Thursday evening, talkSPORT reported that he will be leaving the Premier League club when his contract ends in June.
Konate has played 51 games this season and joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £36 million. He has made 183 appearances for the Reds and won one Premier League title, two Carabao Cups, and an FA Cup.
Meanwhile, Liverpool completed a deal in February to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. The club paid £55 million upfront plus £5 million in add-ons for the 21-year-old defender. Jacquet is now the 10th most expensive French player ever, even though he played only 31 times for Rennes in Ligue 1.
Jacquet told the French newspaper Ouest-France that he took his time before deciding but quickly saw himself at Liverpool. “I’ll be 21 in July. For me, it’s about both the sporting project and my personal growth. At my age, football is my top priority,” he said.
He added, “My agent said there were two options: a mid-table club or skipping a step. At first, we thought about a mid-table team. But I told him, ‘If the biggest clubs in Europe want me, why say no? They want me for a reason.’ I talked with the club’s leaders, and Liverpool’s history and the project they offered really influenced my decision.”
Jacquet also said, “Young players don’t come cheap, and that does add some pressure. But I believe I have what it takes to succeed there, and I’m going to try to play as much as I can.”