In a season Ibrahima Konate managed probably the most minutes since 2018/19, his future is now within the highlight with a contract that at present expires subsequent summer season.
The one drawback with Konate, the considering amongst Liverpool supporters went, was that he couldn’t be relied upon to remain match.
Effectively, a season by which the Frenchman has set a brand new excessive bar of 42 appearances and suffered only one damage – crucially from an impression, moderately than a muscle tweak – has maybe modified perceptions for the higher.
IBRAHIMA KONATE, 2024/25
Began: 39 (All competitions)On instead: 3Goals: 2Assists: 2Overall Season Ranking: 8.2
Contract uncertainty
Konate’s popularity definitely hasn’t been harmed by him rising because the clear primary companion to Virgil van Dijk because the Reds have romped to the Premier League title.
However, whereas the defender has been busy silencing his doubters, one other trigger for concern has reared its head: particularly that his contract is now getting ready to expiry.
As was the case with Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, uncertainty over Konate’s future owes a lot to the revolving door on the sporting director’s workplace in recent times.
Underneath the brand new (or is it outdated?) regime, the goal is to keep away from conditions by which a key participant reaches the ultimate 12 months of their contract.
As issues stand, nonetheless, Konate and Liverpool discover themselves locked in a stand-off amid studies of curiosity from Paris Saint-Germain and Actual Madrid.
Followers might need discovered this simpler to swallow within the years the place the participant was thought-about a gifted by injury-prone member of the squad.
Now, although, we’re speaking a couple of Rolls Royce of a defender with virtually 250 skilled video games underneath his belt and nonetheless simply 25 years outdated.
As such, whether or not they’re spent at Anfield, the Parc des Princes or the Santiago Bernabeu, the following 5 years or so are more likely to see Konate present himself as the most effective on the planet in his place.
Liverpool hope it will likely be with them, and that’s due to the stainless performances the France worldwide has produced since being thrown on at half-time within the first recreation of the season at Ipswich.
At Portman Highway, he virtually single-handedly reworked a workforce from bodily weak to dominant in duels, and he’s arguably as near Van Dijk as you will discover within the Premier League on this regard.
That’s not to say there weren’t lapses, the journeys to Wolves and Fulham instantly spring to thoughts however the good outweighs the unhealthy with regards to the Frenchman’s season.
That’s essential for a workforce that invitations lengthy balls from the opposition with an aggressive press, and why speak of Dean Huijsen being a direct substitute for subsequent season no less than by no means made sense.
Tough to switch
In the end, discovering anybody to switch Konate’s particular talent set could be troublesome, particularly for the cut price price of £36 million Liverpool paid in 2021.
And that’s significantly true as a result of he combines his qualities with a drive to get higher, saying in April: “I stated to Virgil, I might be higher than you at some point.”
In these phrases, continued enchancment on the ball might be vital, as will placing in back-to-back seasons by which he stays damage free.
However he’s already exhibiting himself to be a pacesetter in an identical mould, and has been praised behind the scenes for his perspective to the unseen work wanted to maintain a profession on the very prime.
As such, speak of Liverpool cashing in amid the contract uncertainty looks like folly, with concessions on wages absolutely the higher possibility on this occasion.
This season has proven that Konate is each world-class and primed to get higher, and people usually are not the types of gamers you need to let go of too readily.
Greatest second: A header away to Wolves – his solely league purpose of the season – that helped Liverpool safe a 2-1 win.
Worst second: An terrible error in his field at Fulham that just about resulted in a purpose, and a poor all-round show in defeat.
Function subsequent season: Key participant.
