Liverpool are reportedly fearful that Ibrahima Konate has decided to run his contract down in order to secure a move to Real Madrid.
The Reds will take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday in their penultimate Premier League match of the 2024-25 campaign, though the game will have no consequences for the Merseysiders given they have already won the title.
Boss Arne Slot could look to give right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold minutes on Monday as a farewell, with the defender confirming his intention to leave the club in the summer.
Alexander-Arnold's contract is set to expire at the end of the season amid interest from Real Madrid, and the lack of a transfer fee could impact the team's plans for what could be a busy transfer window.
Centre-back Konate will have just one year remaining on his deal in the summer and Marca report that Liverpool fear he could be the next player to leave for free in order to join Los Blancos, following in the footsteps of Alexander-Arnold.
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Why Liverpool cannot afford to lose Konate
While captain Virgil van Dijk has often earned praise for his displays in the Reds' backline, Konate has also excelled in defence, with his ability to cover wide channels helping to free up Alexander-Arnold.
The Frenchman's pace and physicality would also help to make the transition to life with either Conor Bradley or Jeremie Frimpong at right-back smoother given he would offer both a significant level of protection.
Keeping Konate at Anfield could prove vital for the future of the club given Van Dijk will be 34 by the time the 2025-26 season gets underway, as well as the fact that there are question marks surrounding a number of defenders in the squad, including Andrew Robertson, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah.
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Is there a case to sell Konate?
Despite the fact that Liverpool would have to replace the 25-year-old centre-back with a starter in the transfer market, there is an argument to be made that it would be wiser to sell the Frenchman if he does not renew his deal.
By selling the defender in the summer, Slot would be able to send a message that the club will not allow players to deliberately run their contracts down in order to secure a move elsewhere.
Additionally, having lost numerous stars such as Roberto Firmino, Joel Matip and Emre Can in the past seasons without securing a transfer fee, Liverpool will be keen to stop the cycle of players leaving for free.
Lewis Nolan
