Latest news with #Konate
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Completely fake': Liverpool title-winning hero sounds contract ALARM
Konate's renewal demands The problem is that contract talks have reached an impasse. Konate confirmed that news to reporters following Liverpool's final Premier League game of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend. Advertisement It's been reported that the France international would like £200,000 per week in order to renew. That would place the former RB Leipzig stopper among the Reds' top earners. So far there are no indications that Hughes is prepared to meet those demands. In what might be seen as negative news for Liverpool fans, Konate has admitted that talks are no longer progressing - but crucially he hasn't ruled out remaining at Anfield long-term. © IMAGO Konate contract talks not progressing 'I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything. I am very happy here to be fair,' he said according to the Independent. Advertisement 'This is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don't know when but we will see, let me say that. 'Progressing? Not really – but my agent met the club last week but I don't know what will happen. 'I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen.' Earlier in the season it was reported that Konate was on the brink of striking an agreement for a renewal. He has now definitively refuted those claims, insisting that he was 'never close' to signing a new deal. © IMAGO - Ibrahima Konate Liverpool Contract renewal talk "completely fake" 'I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake,' he said. Advertisement 'I didn't even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it. The rest, that I want to wait until the end, all of it is completely fake. 'In November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like, 'ah, they have more information than me' because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad. 'I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen.' Although Hughes will have a decision to make over Konate should no deal be struck, the title-winner is already focussed on next season with the Reds. 'First thing, I am very happy because we have won the Premier League trophy and and we have to enjoy it, have a rest and hopefully next season will be better than this,' he said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ibrahima Konate scares Liverpool fans with bombshell revelation amid Real Madrid links
While many will remember the 2024/25 campaign as the one Liverpool romped to the Premier League title, others will associate it with how homegrown star Trent Alexander-Arnold ran down his contract to sign with Real Madrid. The Reds could be in for similar situation next summer. Defender Ibrahima Konate, out of contract in 2026, is the subject of rumors to Los Blancos on a free-agent deal. Alexis Mac Allister's trophy-life vlog inadvertently added further fuel to the fire. The Argentine international innocuously prepped for Liverpool's final fixture of the season, a home 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, and chronicled his events of the day. This included footage of the Reds celebrating their win on the Anfield pitch following the contest, with Mac Allister partying alongside individual players. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz phone call, Milos Kerkez 'says yes', Luis Diaz exit READ MORE: Liverpool 'earmarks first sale' after Florian Wirtz transfer is sealed When the Liverpool midfielder approached Konate, he said, "I love you forever, brother" in his native Spanish. After taking a second to gather his words, the French center back responded in the same language. "I love you forever," he said in Spanish. "You're my brother. You're my brother for life." The pair are extremely close, despite their rivaarly at the international level. While seemingly tongue-in-cheek, fans on X were alarmed at Konate's Spanish proficiency. "Ibou's Spanish is a little too good..." one wrote. "Yeah, Ibou is gone," another said. love this — (@salahive) May 29, 2025 Konate is in the last year of the initial five-year deal he inked with the Reds following his £36 million ($48 million) transfer from RB Leipzig in 2021. He's appeared 132 times for Liverpool, capturing a Premier League title, two League Cups, and an FA Cup along the way. He appeared in 31 league games this season. When asked about renewing his contract in January, the Frenchman was coy. "It's true, I've been offered a new contract by Liverpool,' he said. "Am I close to signing it? That's another conversation." READ MORE: Steven Gerrard's wife behind Rangers decision as Liverpool legend pulls out of job READ MORE: Neymar gave puzzling Florian Wirtz response but Liverpool already knows transfer truth 'Who talked about that a few months ago? The club didn't say anything, I didn't say anything, it's one person that says that. I was not ready, I didn't know when he said that, but after I spoke with the club. But after, we'll see what will happen.' The Reds would seek a fee north of €70 million ($80 million) for Konate this summer. Real Madrid has already secured the signature of talented Bournemouth center-back Dean Huijsen to add to the likes of Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Antonio Rudiger at the position.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool transfer news as Real Madrid tells Xabi Alonso that Reds star won't join
Real Madrid has reportedly told its new manager, Xabi Alonso, to forget about signing Liverpool center-back Ibrahima Konate this summer. Konate has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu, but the Reds reportedly want at least $80 million for the Frenchman — despite his contract expiring next June. Unsurprisingly, the report adds that Madrid is expected to come back in for Konate in 2026, when he will be available on a free transfer. Madrid has made a habit of signing high-profile free agents, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the most recent freebie following on from Kylian Mbappe last year, and Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in 2022 and 2021 respectively. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Frimpong arrives in UK, Kerkez and Wirtz updates READ MORE: Mohamed Salah makes retirement age prediction in Saudi transfer admission Rudiger's and Alaba's contracts are due to expire next summer, while Eder Militao has struggled with injuries in recent years, prompting Madrid to revamp its defense. It has agreed a deal to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, and Konate could be the next player targeted. Paris Saint-Germain has also been linked with Konate, who is a self-confessed PSG fan, having supported the club since he was a young boy; the prospect of playing for Luis Enrique's team will undoubtedly appeal to the 25-year-old. Konate confirmed earlier this season that he had been offered fresh terms to renew his deal at Liverpool but would not be drawn on whether he intended to stay. "It's true, I've been offered a new contract by Liverpool,' Konate said during a press conference in January. "Am I close to signing it? That's another conversation." Konate is still on the £80,000 ($106,000) a week salary that he signed upon joining Liverpool in 2021, and it is widely reported that he is demanding £200,000 ($265,000) a week in order to pen a renewal. Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong touched down in the UK on a private jet on Tuesday as he prepares to complete his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool. The Reds agreed to trigger the €35 million ($40 million) release clause in the Dutchman's contract and he underwent his medical last week ahead of moving to the Premier League. Liverpool bid farewell to Alexander-Arnold over the weekend, and his departure makes room in the squad for Frimpong, who has emerged as one of the most exciting right-sided players in world soccer in recent years. He will become part of an already-strong Dutch contingent in the Reds' squad, alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo; head coach Arne Slot is also Dutch.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Virgil van Dijk makes strong claim over Liverpool partner Ibrahima Konate - 'wasn't as good'
Virgil van Dijk believes Ibrahima Konate is a better player than he was at the same age as he revealed how the Liverpool defender wants to follow in his footsteps. Van Dijk and Konate formed a strong centre-back partnership this season, starting 29 out of 38 Premier League games together as the Reds romped to a record-equalling 20th championship. Konate, who turned 26 at the weekend, has now made 132 appearances for Liverpool having arrived from RB Leipzig for £36million back in the summer of 2021. Van Dijk was six months older when he signed for Liverpool in January 2018 after which he has gone on to cement his position as a club legend and skipper the side to their latest title triumph. READ MORE: I was on Liverpool parade bus and saw a city put its heart and soul on show to the world READ MORE: Liverpool postpone Premier League title celebration events after parade car incident And the 33-year-old has revealed how Konate is now keen to assume the same leadership qualities. 'Ibou is a good friend and an excellent defender," said Van Dijk. "He's fast, strong and he wants to become a leader. 'He's getting there because he's improving. I think he's had his best season since he arrived. "As your career progresses, you understand better how your body adapts to different situations. In any case, when I was his age, I wasn't as good as him.' Konate is approaching the final 12 months of his current contract at Liverpool and addressed his future over the weekend. But when asked if the Frenchman was the best centre-back he'd played alongside at Liverpool, Van Dijk added: 'I wouldn't say he's the best (yet), because I played at Liverpool alongside Joe Gomez, with whom I also formed a great partnership at the back." Van Dijk was speaking to L'Equipe at the weekend in a long, wide-ranging interview looking at the Liverpool's Premier League title-winning campaign and his time at Anfield. The Holland international was also asked for his opinion on who will prevail in Saturday's Champions League final, with Paris Saint-Germain - who eliminated the Reds in the round of 16 - taking on Inter Milan. 'PSG favourites? No, I don't think so," said Van Dijk. "I played against PSG recently and they made a strong impression on me. 'But as for Inter, I've played against them in the past and I know two of their players well, my compatriots Denzel Dumfries and Stefan De Vrij. Perhaps Inter have a little more experience than PSG, given that they recently played in the Champions League final (in 2023 against Manchester City).' Van Dijk added: 'I was very impressed by PSG's style of play, the individual quality of their players and the effort they showed. It was quite surprising that we won after they had dominated us, but these things happen in football.'In the return match, we could have scored in the first 20 minutes, which would have changed the course of the match. In the end, the game was quite balanced and it went to penalties.'
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Ibrahima Konate happy at Liverpool despite lack of progress on new contract
The centre-back is entering the final year of his current deal and talks have been ongoing during the season but the club prioritised securing the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who both signed two-year extensions. Getting Konate, who has nailed down his place as Van Dijk's first-choice partner in central defence, to sign a new contract will be high on sporting director Richard Hughes' list – once he has concluded the majority of the club's summer transfer business. A post shared by @ibrahimakonate 'I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything. I am very happy here to be fair,' said the France international. 'This is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don't know when but we will see, let me say that. 'Progressing? Not really – but my agent met the club last week but I don't know what will happen. 'I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen.' There have been contrasting reports throughout the season about Konate's contract status. In November it was suggested a deal had been done, while conversely there were claims Konate had rejected the initial terms. 'I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake. I didn't even ask for something from the club,' he added. 'They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it. The rest, that I want to wait until the end (of his contract), all of it is completely fake. 😎✌️ — Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 25, 2025 'In November (it was claimed) I am very close to signing the deal. I was like, 'ah, they have more information than me' because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad. 'I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen. 'First thing, I am very happy because we have won the Premier League trophy and and we have to enjoy it, have a rest and hopefully next season will be better than this.'
