Liverpool confident of extending struggling star’s contract despite form criticism

Ibrahima Konate may be struggling for his best form this season, but Liverpool have offered him a new contract and are confident he will sign it.

It has been a tricky few days for the Reds as their perfect start to the season was derailed by defeats at Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.

Victor Osimhen scored the only goal of the night on Tuesday as Arne Slot’s men were beaten in Istanbul on a really bad evening for the club which produced injury concerns for both Alisson Becker and Hugo Ekitike.

There were also more worries over the form of some players, including Konate, who has not had the best start to the season, even when Liverpool won their opening five Premier League games.

The 26-year-old has remained first choice alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, as he was last season under Slot, but struggled again in Istanbul on Tuesday.

The France international is into the last year of his contract and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid next summer on a free transfer.

However, French publication L’Equipe report that the Premier League champions have offered the defender a new deal and are confident that he will sign in.

The report states that a contract offer was made in December, but did not satisfy Konate in his role as a regular in the starting XI.

The latest offer was made in mid-September and the Reds are hopeful it will be accepted, with Real Madrid yet to make any bid to sign the centre-back.

Konate criticism

Whether it is because of the distraction of his uncertain future or just a dip in form, Konate has come in for criticism from Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

‘Liverpool look vulnerable at the back,’ he told Sky Sports after the loss at Galatasaray. ‘Ibrahima Konate put in another poor performance in Turkey, with his hospital pass to Ryan Gravenberch nearly giving Galatasaray a second. He and the other Liverpool defenders could not deal with Victor Osimhen.’

After wins over Bournemouth and Newcastle to start the season, Carragher was critical of more than one Liverpool star, but had the sternest words for Konate.

‘There are people for Liverpool who have made a really poor start to the season,’ Carragher told Sky Sports after Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle.

‘Mo Salah is one of them, even though he has got a goal and an assist. Konate is another one. He has been all over the place.

‘He was all over the place last week. He is more interested in grabbing his arm. He was really poor in the first half as well. He is not at the races at all.

‘I absolutely shudder to think where Liverpool would be without Virgil van Dijk who has been absolutely outstanding.

‘At one stage I remember Anthony Gordon winning a header against Konate in the first half and thinking “that can’t happen”.’

Injury headaches for Slot

Both Alisson and Ekitike were forced off with injuries, with Slot confirming his goalkeeper would not be available at the weekend.

‘When he sprinted back, he felt something,’ the manager said of his goalkeeper, who was taken off after 56 minutes.

‘I cannot tell you because I am not a physician but normally when a player sprints back and feels something and goes to the floor and doesn’t come back to the pitch – which by the way they did 112 times, being injured and coming back on the pitch without any pain – but our players don’t do this.

‘So if one of our players is on the floor nine times out of 10 I fear the worst and with the worst I mean he cannot continue and that is what happened with Alisson.

‘He will not be able to play Saturday that (is) 99.9 percent (certain), I have already said 100 per cent.’

It was more positive on the French forward, who felt he could have been suffering with cramp rather than a hamstring injury, but will be scanned to confirm.

‘Hugo felt something when he had to reach for the ball when we were trying to force something,’ Slot said.

‘After the game, players feel ‘Ah it is not too bad’ but it is different when you have to make a sprint. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.’