Liverpool have been rocked by the news that centre-back Ibrahima Konate will leave the club as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of next month.
The 27-year-old French international had previously indicated that a renewal was close, telling journalists after the derby last month that there was a big chance he would remain at Anfield.
However, advanced negotiations between the club and his representatives have completely stopped due to a significant gap in valuation and wage expectations.
The news is a massive blow to head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, who are already tasked with a substantial summer rebuild.
Konate, who joined from RB Leipzig for £36m five years ago, was a key figure in the squad and his departure leaves Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez as the only senior, experienced central defenders on the books, with Gomez also expected to leave this summer.
This high-profile exit follows the confirmed free-transfer departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, signaling a dramatic and unplanned acceleration of the squad’s changing of the guard.
