Konate transfer latest: Liverpool weigh £15m Inter Milan deal amid contract uncertainty
Liverpool are considering a decisive move in the January transfer window as uncertainty continues to surround the future of Ibrahima Konate. With the France international entering the final months of his contract and no agreement yet in place over an extension, senior figures at Anfield are increasingly aware of the risks involved in allowing another high-value asset to run down his deal.
Sources with knowledge of the situation indicate that Liverpool would be open to sanctioning a sale for a fee in the region of £15m if, and only if, a suitable replacement can be secured in time. While that valuation represents a significant reduction on Konate’s wider market worth, it reflects the club’s determination to avoid a repeat of previous contract impasses that have ended without a transfer fee being recouped.
Contract situation shaping January strategy
Konate’s contract is set to expire in the summer, placing Liverpool in a difficult negotiating position. Talks over a new deal have yet to reach a breakthrough, and while there remains no final decision on the player’s future, the club’s hierarchy are planning for multiple scenarios.
Liverpool’s preference remains clear: either renew Konate on terms that align with the club’s long-term wage structure or move him on while a fee can still be generated. Internally, there is an acceptance that allowing another established first-team defender to leave for nothing would be viewed as a failure of squad management, particularly given the ongoing need to refresh the defensive unit.
Inter Milan interest gathers pace
Inter Milan are among the clubs closely monitoring developments. The Italian champions have tracked Konate for some time and had originally viewed a summer move, when his contract expires, as the most realistic opportunity. However, the prospect of a £15m deal in January has accelerated interest.
Inter’s recruitment model has increasingly focused on identifying experienced players approaching the end of their contracts, and Konate fits that profile. His physicality, European experience and age make him an appealing option, particularly at a reduced price. Liverpool’s recent Champions League meeting with Inter has only sharpened awareness on both sides, though no formal bid has yet been submitted.
Liverpool replacement plans already in motion
Crucially, any January exit for Konate would be dependent on Liverpool’s ability to secure a replacement. The club have already done groundwork in the market, with Marc Guehi among the defenders admired by recruitment staff. Guehi, who is also approaching the final year of his contract, was the subject of serious interest late in the previous window and remains firmly on the radar.
Liverpool are reluctant to weaken their defensive depth midway through the season without a clear succession plan. That caution explains why a sale is not yet guaranteed, despite the willingness to listen to offers around the £15m mark.
Form dip and long-term assessment
On the pitch, Konate’s season has been mixed. Typically a commanding presence, he has made a series of costly errors that have drawn scrutiny during Liverpool’s title defence. Nonetheless, recent performances suggest a degree of recovery, and within the club there is still belief in his ability to perform at the highest level.
That balance between short-term form and long-term value underpins Liverpool’s dilemma. Konate remains highly regarded across Europe and is still valued far higher than the proposed £15m deal, making the coming weeks critical in determining whether Liverpool push for renewal or accept the logic of a January exit.
With Inter Milan alert and Liverpool weighing risk against reward, Konate’s future is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing defensive subplots of the winter window.
