‘At the moment…’ – Arne Slot issues Ibrahima Konate update amid tenuous contract situation

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Losing Konate on a free would be negligent from Liverpool

It comes as no surprise that Slot batted away a question about such a delicate matter, with Reds fans kept guessing as to whether or not Konate will sign a new contract as his current deal ticks rapidly towards its 30 June expiry date.

Such negotiations are never straightforward, as we’ve seen from previous case studies at Anfield, but supporters would be justified in feeling worried that this particular situation is taking so long to resolve when the deadline for a decision is so near.

The Frenchman’s performances this season have often been unconvincing, with the 26-year-old frequently subjected to unforgiving external criticism, but it’s undeniable that he’d be an enormous loss to Liverpool if he’s allowed to walk away on a free transfer this summer.

When he’s at his best (something we haven’t seen enough in recent months), he’s an imperious and commanding centre-back, and he’s been one of the few Reds players to come through the entire campaign without any notable injury problems. That availability has been precious given the extensive absenteeism elsewhere.

To lose a defender of his capabilities in his prime footballing years and carrying a Transfermarkt valuation of €50m (£43.3m) without banking any fee in return would be gross negligence by the Anfield hierarchy. We can only hope that an agreement is struck in the coming weeks.