Reds Defender Wanted by PSG and Madrid as Contract Talks Drag | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konaté Contract Standoff: Power Play or Premature Exit?

Konaté’s Liverpool Future in the Balance

Liverpool stand at a familiar crossroads. A rising star, a hefty contract demand, and the looming threat of Europe’s biggest clubs circling. This time, it’s Ibrahima Konaté at the centre of the storm. According to The Times journalist Hamzah Khalique-Loonat, the French defender’s agent has stunned FSG by requesting a mammoth 150% pay hike, pushing Konaté’s weekly wage demands to £200,000.

That’s a jump from his current £80,000—a staggering leap, and one that would vault the 25-year-old to the third-highest earner at the club, behind only Mohamed Salah (£350,000) and Virgil van Dijk (£220,000). The message is clear: Konaté and his camp believe his role in Liverpool’s spine deserves financial parity with the club’s elite.

From Leipzig to Anfield: A Crucial Defender’s Rise

Signed in May 2021 after Liverpool triggered his £36 million release clause from RB Leipzig, Konaté has been a revelation. Now in his fourth season at Anfield, the French international has amassed 126 appearances and emerged as the undisputed defensive partner to Van Dijk. That partnership has helped stabilise the back line in both domestic and European competition.

Photo IMAGO

Yet his contract, signed as a five-year deal, is ticking down fast—set to expire in summer 2026. With just over 12 months before the Reds would be forced into a pivotal decision, no extension is in place. And Liverpool, having already navigated complex renewals for Salah, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold this year, are wary of another prolonged saga.

“We understand the Reds have made it clear to Konaté that they are very much keen to tie him down for the long-term and reward him with a pay-hike on his current £80,000 a week arrangement.”

Despite that willingness, the parties remain some distance apart.

Europe’s Elite Circling as PSG and Madrid Monitor

It’s little surprise that Real Madrid and PSG are sniffing around. For both clubs, Konaté represents a ready-made defensive asset entering his peak. And for PSG, the homegrown angle adds another layer of appeal. Speaking to Canal Plus last year, Konaté didn’t hide his admiration:

“If I said no, I’d be lying, but if you’re asking, is it one of my objectives? Not at all.”

Still, in a February interview, he struck a professional tone:

“To hear big clubs like that are showing interest in me is very flattering! Now I’m focusing on this season, giving it my all, and I’ll let my agents take care of the rest.”

With such admiration being publicly expressed, and contract talks at an impasse, Liverpool may be forced to consider offers. “Konaté could be put up for sale by Liverpool with two giants keen,” reads the key line from The Times.

FSG’s Dilemma: Cash In or Back the Defender?

FSG now find themselves in a familiar bind. Reward a player who’s become essential—but whose availability has been inconsistent—or risk letting yet another key talent leave amid financial constraints and squad renewal plans under new boss Arne Slot.

Should no compromise be found, The Times suggests, “FSG could be left with little choice but to put the defender up for sale and listen to offers for his services this summer.”

And if that happens, the expected price tag exceeds £50 million—a reflection of both his quality and market value.

Interestingly, Ben Jacobs noted last month that the Reds first attempted to extend Konaté’s contract in 2023, but that proposal has become a “staring point for talks.”

While Liverpool may not want to sell, the current impasse and interest from clubs with deeper pockets could make this summer decisive. And in a squad evolving post-Klopp, such turning points are no longer rare—they’re becoming a feature of the new regime.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s admiration for Ibrahima Konaté’s performances, no doubt. He’s been immense on his day—powerful in the air, commanding in duels, and progressive with the ball. But here’s the rub: fans aren’t just worried about the wage hike; we’re worried about the precedent. If £80,000 jumps to £200,000 without a significant trophy haul or consistent fitness, what does that say to the rest of the dressing room?

There’s also a growing anxiety about how FSG approach these key renewals. First Henderson, then the flirtations with losing Salah, Van Dijk and Trent… now Konaté. Continuity is meant to be a cornerstone of Liverpool’s identity. But instead of building on a core, we’re starting to resemble a club constantly playing financial catch-up with its own stars.

If Konaté walks and we’re left scrambling for a replacement—possibly cheaper, younger and less experienced—it feels like a step back at a time when Arne Slot needs assured performers. This summer could define how we re-establish dominance—or how we lose more ground. Let’s hope compromise wins.