Liverpool are close to losing one of their key defenders for free in the summer transfer window. According to reports from Sky and the Daily Mail, center-back Ibrahima Konaté has failed to reach an agreement on a new contract with the club. The 27-year-old is expected to leave as a free agent after the World Cup, reports Goal.com. reports .
Yet, for the past year, negotiations between the Merseyside club and the player were said to be heading toward a positive conclusion. In April, L'Equipe reported that a deal was almost ready, and Ibrahima Konaté himself stated that talks were moving in the right direction. However, the situation changed unexpectedly, and he decided to leave the club after a five-year spell.
The Frenchman's next destination is currently unknown, but Real Madrid is seen as the primary contender. With David Alaba expected to leave at the end of the season and Eder Militao sidelined by serious injuries, the Madrid club must strengthen its defense. While Antonio Rüdiger is expected to sign an extension, the team is facing a shortage of center-backs.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail identifies PSG as another major option for Konaté. Although the Parisian club has defenders like Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, a return to his homeland is highly likely for the French player. This transfer would be a significant loss for Liverpool, as he played 51 matches alongside Virgil van Dijk last season.
This unexpected departure could also have serious consequences for Borussia Dortmund. If Liverpool turns its attention to Dortmund's key defenders to fill the void, the German club could easily lose one of its leaders. Currently, Joe Gomez remains the only healthy backup center-back in the Liverpool squad.
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