07 Jul 2025 17:03:45
From Romano. if Konate leaves LFC it will be for RM only and on Free transfer.
07 Jul 2025 17:14:57
He's playing guesswork mate, even Konate probably doesn't have a clue what he's going to do just yet.
07 Jul 2025 17:19:41
I would think Liverpool will start the CB committed to the club.
So if Konates decision is to run his contract down, he will likely downgrade his status and game time significantly this year.
In a world cup year and with competition in the French defence, I suspect this to have a big impact on his France starting position. I'm fact, he would almost certainly lose it if he is not playing regularly.
His choice.
07 Jul 2025 17:20:19
Well he needs to be sold.
07 Jul 2025 17:23:04
Gonna spend the rest of his career covering for Trent.
07 Jul 2025 18:14:31
I Googled "Romano Konate" and was directed to a Facebook post from 15 June when Romano said that "Ibou Konaté can be REAL MADRID FIRST SIGNING for 2026, as FREE agent — reports Marca"
Couple of clues that the OP's post could be a non-story:
1) Dated 15 June 2025
2) Sourced from Marca
Nothing to see here.
07 Jul 2025 18:14:37
Should be Fabricated Romano.
07 Jul 2025 18:29:02
Love that.
07 Jul 2025 20:57:41
You can't sell a player under contract who doesn't want to be sold. Such is the nature of contracts.
07 Jul 2025 21:11:10
JLDA nails it.
07 Jul 2025 21:30:04
But you can sign a replacement and bench him. With it being a World Cup year absolutely no way does he stay to sit on the bench. Hopefully we have learned lessons and we are very united on this.
07 Jul 2025 21:36:45
JLDA. that's true but you put the player in a position that's if he goes down the route of running his contract down . then he doesn't play . I know all the do gooders on ere think that's not a nice thing to do, not a good look etc but who cares . we've had players who had 3/ 4 left on their contracts who've downed tools n refused to play. Coutinho, macheran.
07 Jul 2025 21:38:48
Pressed send to early . coutinho, mascherano, Suarez etc . can't have it all one way.
07 Jul 2025 22:59:25
It was a story from another journalist and then after apparently Konate's brother posted a picture of pinocchio. I'd imagine if he was going to leave on a free it would be to PSG not RM.
07 Jul 2025 23:05:46
You still have to pay him if you bench him, then what if you get injuries or suspensions? He’ll have to play.
It serves no-one benching him for a season, it’s just a waste of a squad place.
It’s impractical and self-defeating. You essentially lose the player for free a season early. He’s not getting in the French team anyway.
08 Jul 2025 05:41:23
If it were me and I yeas negotiating with Konate I would offer him a two year extension on his contract, offer him a pay rise and put in a release clause that is commensurate with his current market value. I’d also say that I wouldn’t stand in his way if he wished to leave as a clause in the extension. So he can go in any window in the next three years if he wants but only if the release clause is met by the club who want to buy him. If he stays there’s more trophies to be won and a bigger salary and Madrid have to pay real money (see what I did there? ) or wait until 2028 to get him on a free, by which time they might well have turned their attentions elsewhere.
{Ed077's Note - but he can still refuse the offer though.
08 Jul 2025 09:51:57
True enough @77. That’s why I included the upping of his wages - just enough to tempt him to stay. It was just a thought given I don’t want us to be a feeder club for Real Madrid, at least without putting up a fight anyway.
{Ed077's Note - it is just not that realistic to get someone to sign a contract or move somewhere if they are already set on something
08 Jul 2025 10:27:47
Again true enough @77. I just really dislike Madrid and their puppets Marca and AS destabilising 5he spirit within clubs - particularly our club. They think they are above the game . Ironically, they lack class, which is the thing they have in spades.
08 Jul 2025 10:57:29
Ron is it though . so we pay his wages . we've got to anyway . but its more of putting a marker down for the future that you can't do this to us anymore . I think we need to be tough with players like this.
08 Jul 2025 11:50:05
I agree with West Derby, a middle ground should be found with Konate as he is a top class defender and I am sure there is some median between what we’re currently offering and his demand (purportedly £200k pw gross), I think adding in a reasonable release clause only available to teams outside of England which kicks in after two years feels like a way forward as it secures the player, gives him the potential to move if a suitable offer comes in and protects an asset. The thing we can’t do is force a sale, he can easily say no, it makes no sense benching him out of spite (and what kind of message does that send to potential signings? ) and letting another player leave on a free is as palatable as a dog muck sandwich.
08 Jul 2025 12:31:30
I don’t think he’s top class when he’s not playing next to Virgil, he’s average. That’s why he doesn’t play for France.
He’s always got a rick in him or a brain pause.
08 Jul 2025 14:12:47
@Ron, he’s captained France and has earned 23 caps since his international debut in 2022.
08 Jul 2025 14:25:19
Madrid have tapped him up like Trent. Don’t sign a contract and we’ll give you a nice salary and a big signing on bonus. Madrid getting players for free and Pool losing out on big transfer fees, around £150m both together. Obvious what they are doing but no one would admit to it so they get with it Scott free.
08 Jul 2025 14:39:43
Ron, how many better centre halves are there in the premier league than Konate. I’ll give you a clue. It’s one, Van Dijk. Not one of Guehi, Murillo, Stones, Akanji, Diaz, uncle Tom Cobley and all are better.
If Konate was as average as you think he is, Madrid and PSG wouldn’t be remotely interested.
{Ed077's Note - Saliba ? Gabriel?
08 Jul 2025 19:02:04
All that means is that there aren’t many top class centre halves in the PL and I agree there aren’t that many.
Madrid and PSG are only interested on a free transfer, otherwise they’d stump up the reddies.
He’s just not top class, he makes too many incomprehensible mistakes.