Big contract update from Liverpool following a report by Paul Joyce.

Signs are increasingly pointing to Ibrahima Konaté leaving Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer.

Negotiations over a new deal with the French international have so far failed to produce any meaningful progress, leaving little optimism about a potential agreement.

Konaté, now 26, featured in France’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Ukraine last Friday, but his club future remains uncertain.

Will Konaté exit Liverpool?
Respected journalist Paul Joyce of The Times has already reported that contract talks are currently at a standstill.

Given growing interest from Real Madrid—long known for targeting top talents—it’s understandable if Liverpool fans are frustrated by the situation.

Adding fuel to the fire, journalist Nicolo Schira reported via X (formerly Twitter) that Konaté is gearing up for a 2026 departure. He’s even said to have turned down a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League in favour of a long-term deal from the Spanish giants.

Could Konaté join Real Madrid as early as January?
Sources within the agent community have told Empire of the Kop that Liverpool are open to offers for Konaté during the January transfer window—if he continues to delay committing to a contract extension.

Should that scenario unfold, the club would almost certainly look to bring in a replacement. However, who that replacement might be remains unclear. Paul Joyce previously reported that Liverpool are unlikely to pursue Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in January, though that stance could shift if Palace decide to cash in before his contract ends.

Regardless, allowing Konaté to leave mid-season without signing a suitable replacement would leave new manager Arne Slot dangerously thin at centre-back—relying solely on Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and youngster Giovanni Leoni.