Liverpool face AGONISING Ibrahima Konate transfer decision

It’s become a wearyingly familiar sight. Ibrahima Konate hobbled off during the closing stages of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 second-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

He was replaced by Wataru Endo for the remainder and looks doubtful for the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United at the weekend.

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That was the second time this season that Liverpool coach Arne Slot had to watch on as Konate limped out of a Champions League game.

Back in November, he was hit hard by Endrick across his knee during the final act of Liverpool’s defeat of Real Madrid in the league phase.

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He ended up missing around eight matches in total and his absence certainly took its toll on Liverpool’s ability to command clean sheets.

Konate's patchy injury record

Konate has FINALLY established himself as Virgil van Dijk’s preferred partner this season - in his fourth campaign at Anfield since joining from RB Leipzig in 2021.

The 25-year-old looks a world-beater, capable of excelling in Slot’s possession-heavy style of play as well as doing the more traditional defender’s tasks.

And Liverpool fans had got used to the sight of Konate fit and firing on all cylinders after three seasons of false dawns.

Indeed, he lost his place towards the end of last season under Jurgen Klopp and no one was too surprised that Jarell Quansah started this season ahead of him.

It speaks to the France international’s consistency and class - when fit - that the contest between them both looks a foregone conclusion these days.

But these last few months have brought a reminder of Konate’s vulnerability to suffering injury and that ought to be borne in mind as his contract ticks towards a 2026 expiry.

In his first three seasons at the club, Konate managed 29, 24 and 37 matches across all competitions respectively.

By contrast, Van Dijk - who is almost a decade older - has played 51, 41 and 48 times.

His Bundesliga record wasn’t much better with a litany of injuries suffered throughout his Leipzig days. Liverpool knew of these problems when he signed but opted to press ahead.

Another injury-prone high-earner?

“Can they endure the physicality? How resilient are they? Can they play every game? Are they robust?,” Patrick Montgomery, formerly of Liverpool’s recruitment team, recently said in an interview with the Breakdown.

Can anyone really say that has been the case for Konate, his quality notwithstanding?

Konate’s been making noise recently regarding transfer interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. We know that PSG would make a remarkable offer to tempt him home to the French capital.

And we also know his value is only going to diminish as he enters the final two years of his contract.

If he does renew - with his newly-acquired status of indisputable starter with suitors across Europe - then it’s going to be for a lot more than the €140,000 per week he is currently earning.

Can Liverpool afford that risk?

Klopp was riddled with injury-prone high-earners by the end of his time at Anfield - including Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara. Liverpool can’t afford to be paying top-earners significant salaries for nothing in return.

And that means that Liverpool SHOULD listen very carefully to any transfer offers they might receive for Konate this summer.

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He is at his peak and is still missing matches. The club will have to weigh up whether they think it’s going to get any better. Maybe the right thing to do is to bank a decent sum, sell while his value remains high and reinvest it in another, more robust defender.

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