Ibrahima Konate is heading into the final year of his contract, and while a new deal is on the table, there's still no agreement in sight. Meanwhile, Real Madrid remain interested.
His current contract runs until June 2026, but talks with the Reds haven't led to any breakthroughs yet.
As of January 1st, the French defender has been free to negotiate pre-contract terms with clubs outside England. Real Madrid are one of several teams reportedly keeping an eye on the situation.
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Nico Schlotterbeck , who has drawn interest from Liverpool , is among those being considered, but there's also been talk of a move for the 25-year-old from Merseyside.
However, according to AS, their interest in the Frenchman has waned. The report claims that while his contract situation makes him an intriguing option on paper, Konate 'hasn't impressed' enough to push a deal forward.
That could be seen as a boost for Liverpool's chances of keeping him, though the report also notes that Schlotterbeck is currently generating 'the most buzz' within the Spanish capital.
Liverpool may be in a position to retain Konate, with few other clubs currently linked to the defender. However, this could mean passing on a move for the German centre-back.
That might not be the worst outcome, especially if Konate maintains his current level of play. The Frenchman has been in better form lately, and there are signs he could return to his best under Arne Slot.
Van Dijk said: "Ibou has been outstanding over the last couple of games and played very well. Again today – especially first half – he was exceptional as well. I've said it before as well that he can be so good and [has] world-class potential.
"There's no doubt about it and obviously he's had a tough season with injuries and maybe not playing consistently throughout the whole season but having this spell is good for him, good for us, good for everyone and let's see what happens."
The pair didn't start their 2024/25 campaigns strongly by any means, but Konate in particular seems to have found some consistency recently.
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