Liverpool remain mired in contract trouble as the season enters its final six weeks.

Talk of players who could leave the Reds has been rife throughout the campaign, with some big stars heading towards exits.

But while the focus has been on Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the situation of Ibrahima Konate has also been causing alarm.

Konate has just one year left on the five-year contract he signed upon joining in 2021.

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With the 25-year-old having become a key player for Arne Slot this season, there is legitimate concern that he could leave Liverpool this summer.

Real Madrid have been linked with Konate while rumours about a return to Paris with PSG have never been far away.

And as talks reach crunch time with the centre-back, his wage demands have been revealed.

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This situation has rather crept up on Liverpool.

Clearly, Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold are more pressing, but Konate’s rapidly expiring deal is a major worry, too.

The France international has not yet reached his peak and if Liverpool cannot agree an extension with him before the summer, it would be prudent to put him up for sale.

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Based on Konate’s terrible performance against Fulham on Sunday, not every supporter will have a problem with that.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Konate still has a big part to play at Liverpool now and in the future.

Thankfully, The Times report that the Reds have been in talks with the defender since October.

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But if that represents promising news, then the fact that six months have passed without a resolution is anything but.

Part of the reason for that may be Konate’s wage demands.

It’s claimed that with the No.5 currently earning £80k-per-week, his representatives are looking to bag him closer to £200k-per-week.

There have been reports circulating recently that Liverpool are already planning for Konate’s replacement, with several names put forward as candidates.

AppearancesGoalsTrophies2021/22293FA Cup, EFL Cup2022/23240Community Shield2023/24370EFL Cup2024/25362Ibrahima Konate at Liverpool

Certainly, knowing what we do about Liverpool’s wage structure, it seems unlikely they’d be willing to pay Konate £200k-per-week.

They may see it is better sense to recoup what they paid for the former RB Leipzig man this summer and bring a new player in on less money.

But that would be to ignore the fact that Konate has truly become a massive part of Slot’s XI this season.