Ibrahima Konaté set to depart Liverpool: Where could he go next?

he France international is expected to leave Anfield on a free transfer this summer after negotiations over a new deal failed to produce an agreement

Liverpool and Ibrahima Konaté will reportedly part ways this summer after the two parties have failed to reach a mutual agreement on a potential contract extension.

Negotiations between the club and the defender have broken down, paving the way for the France international to leave on a free transfer when his current deal expires next June.

For much of the past two years, there was confidence on both sides that an agreement could eventually be reached.

As recently as April, Konaté publicly expressed optimism about his future, revealing that discussions were progressing positively and suggesting there was a strong possibility he would remain at Anfield beyond next season.

“My future? To be fair, there are many things people have said but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement,” he said.

“I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible but we are in a good way. For sure there is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract but when everything is sorted you will have to ask Richard what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”

According to reports, the main obstacle has been a substantial gap between Liverpool’s valuation of the player and the financial package being sought by Konaté’s camp. Despite negotiations having started as far back as November 2023, the two sides have failed to bridge those differences.

Where could Konaté go next?

Unless there is a dramatic breakthrough, Konaté will leave Liverpool without generating a transfer fee, becoming the latest high-profile departure from the club after Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.

Konate arrived from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35 million and developed into one of Liverpool’s most reliable defenders during his time at the club, forming a solid centre-back duo alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.

Konaté has already attracted interest from several European powerhouses such as Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

It remains to be seen which of those giants could lure the France international following his expected departure from Anfield next month.