BongDa.com.vn Ibrahima Konate’s future is uncertain as his contract is about to expire. Liverpool are ready for his departure by planning to sign Marc Guehi for free next summer.
Konate has yet to renew his contract with Liverpool.
On the final day of the transfer window, Marc Guehi’s seemingly completed move to Liverpool collapsed. A clear disappointment for both club and player. However, behind what seemed like a setback, there was a long-term, calculated and cold strategy from the Liverpool board under Michael Edwards.
Their new plans for Guehi are not just a transfer move, but also a strong message to Ibrahima Konate : Liverpool value him, but they are fully prepared for a future without the France international.
The story of Marc Guehi is a testament to Liverpool’s patience and determination. After agreeing a £35m deal with Crystal Palace, everything seemed to be in place.
Guehi was allowed to meet Liverpool representatives, undergo a medical and agree personal terms. In his mind, he was already a Kop player. However, at the last minute, Palace chairman Steve Parish caved to the demands of manager Oliver Glasner and kept the England centre-back .
Liverpool’s response was remarkable. Rather than panicking or preparing a new offer in January, they made it clear: there would be no further negotiations and no intention of paying a transfer fee for a player with less than a year left on his contract. The Kop’s stance was clear: £35m in the summer, or a free transfer next year.
This confidence stems from Liverpool’s belief that Guehi is still committed to Anfield. They view rumours of interest from other clubs as a ploy to lure them back to the negotiating table. By standing their ground, Liverpool not only save a significant amount of money, but also demonstrate power and foresight.
They are playing the long game, relying on their own charisma and the implicit commitment from the player. The collapse of the deal also explains why Joe Gomez, who was wanted by AC Milan, was kept on.
Liverpool will return to the Guehi deal after the season ends.
Gomez has now played a key role this season, but the original plan was for Guehi to replace him, not Konate. However, circumstances have changed, and Guehi’s plans are now closely tied to the French centre-back’s own future.
To understand Liverpool’s preparations, we need to look back at last season’s “contract drama at Anfield”. The three pillars of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold entered the final year of their contracts, creating a sense of uncertainty around the club. Many people said “this would never happen under Michael Edwards”.
But ironically, now, in the second year of Edwards’ reign with sporting director Richard Hughes, the same situation has been repeated with Ibrahima Konate, proving that even with the most effective management, a club can be helpless if a player is determined to extend his contract to the end.
Konate is following the script of his seniors. He is also in the final year of his contract. Rumors linking Konate to Real Madrid are seen as a strategic move, a reminder that his options are not limited.
In 2024, when preliminary discussions began, Konate himself dismissed the idea that a deal was close to being done, a message that was not very optimistic from the player’s side. Liverpool have been pushing, a new contract has long been said to be ready to be signed, but things have stalled.
For the club, they do not want to wait another 10 months, but are ready for any outcome. It is in this pragmatic context that the pursuit of Guehi must be assessed.
The plan to sign Guehi on a free next summer would be the perfect insurance policy for Konate. If Konate signs a new deal, Liverpool would have a very solid defence with Van Dijk, Konate, Guehi and Gomez.
If Konate decides to leave for free , Guehi would be a direct, quality replacement, available on a free. Liverpool are not being put in a passive or panic-spending position. They have mapped out both paths.
Konate must have breathed a sigh of relief when the Guehi deal collapsed last week. If Guehi were to move to Anfield, his game time would surely be severely affected, especially in a World Cup year when he needs to play regularly to keep his place in Didier Deschamps’ squad.
The Frenchman’s place alongside Van Dijk is now undisputed. Liverpool need him more than ever this season. But this is just a temporary reprieve. The pressure will be back on next summer, when Guehi is almost certain to arrive at Anfield.
Liverpool will not be dependent on Konate’s decision.
Liverpool’s preparations don’t stop with Guehi. They’ve taken things a step further by signing young talent Giovanni Leoni from Parma. Leoni is not only seen as a player for the long term, but is “expected to make his debut” in the Carabao Cup this September, a sign that a clear development path has been laid out for him.
Liverpool’s vision for the next year is truly remarkable, envisioning a scenario where Konate, Guehi and Leoni compete to be Van Dijk’s partner, before being ready to take on the mantle when the captain retires from Anfield in 2027.
By building solid alternatives, Liverpool have freed themselves from the need to make decisions based on Konate. They still want him to stay, but the former RB Leipzig man’s departure will no longer be a disaster. It will be a carefully planned and anticipated personnel change. The foundations for life after Konate are being laid, quietly but surely.
