‘More Likely’—Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool Future Takes Fresh Twist

The Frenchman’s been extensively linked with an Anfield exit—until now.

Ibrahima Konaté will be a free agent in a matter of months. | Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images/DeFodi/Getty Images

Ibrahima Konaté is considered “more likely” to stay at Liverpool than leave Merseyside despite tensions over the terms of a new contract and his wage demands, new reports state.

The France international is set to become a free agent as soon as June 30 while negotiations over a fresh deal with Liverpool fail to bear fruit. Much like the vast majority of his teammates, Konaté has endured some notable dips in form this season—Arne Slot memorably admitted that “he has been a bit too much at the crime scene.”

However, he remains one of Liverpool’s key starters and would leave a gaping void in the middle of defense should his contract be allowed to run down.

During the many twists and turns of yet another contract saga for the club to wade through following last year’s season-long back-and-forth with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konaté’s club for 2026–27 has changed identity on numerous occasions.

However, The Athletic now claim that the Frenchman is “more likely” to belatedly come to an agreement with Liverpool’s hierarchy rather than move elsewhere. The process of forcing his pen onto a piece of paper still has some way to go.

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What Are Ibrahima Konate’s Salary Demands at Liverpool?

Separate issues govern Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté. | Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images

Shortly after celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last summer, Konaté was at pains to clear up some spurious whispers about his supposed demands. “I didn’t even ask for something from the club,” the 26-year-old insisted. “They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.”

The Athletic report that Konaté’s reply to Liverpool centered around his salary. The former RB Leipzig defender is thought to earn in the region of $199,000 (£150,000) per week and is angling for a wage “in line” with the club’s top earners.

Defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch recently agreed a contract extension which is thought to have made him the club’s fourth best-paid player on around $372,000 per week. For comparison, record-signing Alexander Isak is said to make in the region of $400,000 while Florian Wirtz takes home $330,000.

It is not believed that Konaté is demanding a sum comparable to the lofty figures banked by his defensive partner Virgil van Dijk, who reportedly ranks as the best-paid center back in the world. Mohamed Salah’s eye-watering salary—which will be taken off Liverpool’s wage bill once he departs in the summer—is also considered to be beyond Konaté’s expectations.

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How Ibrahima Konate Compares to Liverpool’s Top Earners

Player	Contract Expiry	Weekly Salary
Mohamed Salah	2027	$640,000
Virgil van Dijk	2027	$540,000
Alexander Isak	2031	$400,000
Ryan Gravenberch	2032	$372,000
Florian Wirtz	2030	$330,000
Ibrahima Konaté	2026	$199,000

Reported figures converted into dollars.

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External Factors Which Point Towards Clear Konate Decision

The future of Ibrahima Konaté (right) could be dictated by Dayot Upamecano’s decision. | FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

As The Athletic point out, Konaté’s pool of potential suitors has dried up as the season has ticked on. Dayot Upamecano’s contract extension at Bayern Munich has likely removed the German champions from the list of contenders while Paris Saint-Germain’s interest has been heavily downplayed.

Real Madrid reportedly pulled out of the race back in November.

It was around that time that Konaté last delivered a public update on his future, promising an outcome “very soon.” Clearly, his timekeeping is relative.

However, his recent comments—specifically the use of the word “we”—regarding Liverpool’s challenge to bounce back from a collectively dire 2025–26 campaign have been leapt upon.

“We bring new players, we will adapt, we will try to understand each other and at a point, with time, we will win a trophy,” he told ESPN earlier this week. “We will have success and when we win the Premier League or Champions League, people will forget every bad season we had because now we won the league last season. This is just part of the success and we have to be relaxed because we have amazing fans, we have to stay together, and the success will come for sure.”

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