Title-winning hero sounds contract ALARM

Liverpool succeeded last season in concluding contract negotiations for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Both superstars are now under contract until 2027.

But for Richard Hughes, the high-stakes poker games never stop. Having lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid – albeit for what will likely be a transfer fee – Liverpool risk losing other key figures next summer.

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Andy Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher are among those out of contract in 2026 but perhaps the most pressing concern is Ibrahima Konate.

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A Liverpool player since 2021, the 26-year-old is being chased by both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. If no new deal is agreed with the French defender this summer then Hughes risks losing him for nothing in just over 12 months.

Konate’s renewal demands

The problem is that contract talks have reached an impasse. Konate confirmed that news to reporters following Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend.

It’s been reported that the France international would like £200,000 per week in order to renew. That would place the former RB Leipzig stopper among the Reds’ top earners.

So far there are no indications that Hughes is prepared to meet those demands.

In what might be seen as negative news for Liverpool fans, Konate has admitted that talks are no longer progressing – but crucially he hasn’t ruled out remaining at Anfield long-term.

Konate contract talks not progressing

“I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything. I am very happy here to be fair,” he said according to the Independent.

“This is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don’t know when but we will see, let me say that. “Progressing? Not really – but my agent met the club last week but I don’t know what will happen.

“I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen.”

Earlier in the season it was reported that Konate was on the brink of striking an agreement for a renewal. He has now definitively refuted those claims, insisting that he was “never close” to signing a new deal.

Contract renewal talk “completely fake”

“I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake,” he said.

“I didn’t even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it. The rest, that I want to wait until the end, all of it is completely fake.

“In November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like, ‘ah, they have more information than me’ because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad.

“I knew at one moment people would think I didn’t want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen.”

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Although Hughes will have a decision to make over Konate should no deal be struck, the title-winner is already focussed on next season with the Reds.

“First thing, I am very happy because we have won the Premier League trophy and and we have to enjoy it, have a rest and hopefully next season will be better than this,” he said.