Ibrahima Konaté is poised to leave Liverpool this summer after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract. The 27-year-old France defender, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, has been in protracted negotiations with the club but looks certain to depart on a free transfer.
If Konaté leaves without a fee, it will mark the second consecutive year Liverpool have lost a first-choice defender for nothing, following Trent Alexander-Arnold's £10 million move to Real Madrid last summer. The development comes as a blow to sporting director Richard Hughes, with new defensive recruits Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni sidelined through injury and speculation surrounding Joe Gomez's future.
Konaté, who has endured a disappointing season, is now expected to attract interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. His departure would further deplete a defence already losing Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, signalling the end of another era from Jürgen Klopp's reign.
In April, Konaté appeared optimistic about staying, stating: "There is a big chance I'm here next season. This is what I always wanted." However, those hopes have faded as talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
