Liverpool struggling to make headway in contract talks with Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool are on the cusp of being crowned Premier League champions for just the second time.

Eyebrows were raised when the Reds lost 3-2 against Fulham a fortnight ago. But it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, as Arsenal couldn’t beat Everton.

They were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw, and Liverpool took the chance to further solidify their grip at the summit with back-to-back wins against West Ham United and Leicester City.

Liverpool were far from their sparkling best in both games, but they got the job done. Arne Slot’s side now need one more win to clinch top spot.

However, if Arsenal lose against Crystal Palace, Liverpool could be crowned champions before they face Tottenham Hotspur.

Over the past few weeks, Liverpool have focused on tying their best players to new deals.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have pledged their allegiance, but Trent Alexander-Arnold seems to have his heart set on a move to Real Madrid.

Ibrahima Konate is the latest player to enter contract talks, but the club are struggling to make progress on a new deal for him.

Konate’s contract runs until 2026, so Liverpool could be in another Alexander-Arnold situation if they don’t sort it out sooner rather than later.

The France international is drawing interest from Paris Saint-Germain, so his head could be turned by the prospect of returning to his homeland.

Interest from Madrid adds further fuel to the fire, given the current situation with Alexander-Arnold.

Konate is viewed as the future leader of the Liverpool backline, but they could be forced to cash in if they can’t convince him to sign a new deal.