Konate’s Liverpool future uncertain as podcast hints at possible exit
Contract uncertainty and growing speculation
On The Transfer Show from Anfield Index, host Dave Davis led an in-depth discussion on Liverpool’s ongoing transfer planning and raised serious questions about Ibrahima Konate’s future at Anfield. Davis said directly, “This will just rumble, I think, through all season. It literally won’t go away.”
He noted reports from David Ornstein that “talks are active and ongoing with Konate, but nothing is close,” and added that the French defender “earns more than double 70,000 a week already, and will want a really good contract to move into Liverpool’s top bracket.” Davis went further, saying, “You know PSG are there all the time, you know Real are being linked every five minutes… the reality right now points to one direction, doesn’t it? And it isn’t Ibu Konate signing again at Liverpool.”
The Anfield Index host stressed that while the club remains outwardly calm, “it would be more astonishing if there was a renewal signed,” given how far apart the sides appear to be in negotiations.
Form and fitness concerns
Beyond the contract stand-off, Davis was critical of Konate’s performances this season. “It’s been a distinctly average, below-average in some games, start to the season. Yes, there’s been the odd performance, but largely aside from getting on social media and responding to fans and accounts, it’s not been the best from Ibu.”

He highlighted statistical regression, saying, “His progressive passes have dropped right down into the 71st percentile now from high 80s… all his metrics are heading the wrong way.” The podcast pointed to a player “looking massively devoid of confidence” and “terrified with the ball right now, genuinely like it’s a hot potato.”
Two recent injuries also drew attention. Davis remarked, “Think about that. Two withdrawals for injuries and we’re only ten games into the season.” He questioned how Liverpool could justify an improved deal when “he’s going to be wanting a pay bump from 150, probably more than 200 grand a week,” adding that such wages “need to be nailed on for Liverpool to be playing regularly well.”

Lack of competition deepens dilemma
Davis also addressed the absence of internal competition for the French defender. “Even when Ibu is playing like this, where’s his competition? Because if you take away the 90 minutes Joe Gomez played in the Carabao, he’s only actually played 29 minutes in the Premier League this season.”
The show described the situation as a “real problem” created by injuries to Giovanni Leoni and a lack of trust in Gomez. “Essentially, there’s no real competition without Guehi there to push him,” Davis said, referring to the failed summer move for Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

The uncertainty has left Liverpool in an awkward position ahead of the January window. Davis warned, “Liverpool probably trying to stay on the right side of him for that, but wanting money that I don’t think we’ll want to pay… he’ll get more at Real, we know Perez has that thing for free transfers, doesn’t he?”
Future hanging in the balance
As things stand, Davis concluded that Konate’s long-term future looks increasingly fragile. “There’s not really anything you can hang your hat on, is there? We’ll see if we get anything more before January, but we ain’t holding our breath on this one.”
Liverpool’s centre-back options remain thin, and the failure to sign reinforcement in the summer has placed even greater scrutiny on Konate. The Anfield Index discussion painted a picture of a defender out of form, unsettled and perhaps already weighing his next move.
If the situation does not improve, the likelihood of Konate leaving Liverpool before 2026 looks increasingly high, and the club’s reluctance to address defensive depth in January could yet come back to haunt them.