Liverpool ‘close’ to ‘huge’ signing

Robin Bairner

8 Apr 2026 12:28 BST
4 min read

Liverpool stand on the verge of completing an important piece of transfer business for the summer that will help Arne Slot to solve one of the major problems he faces.

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The Reds have endured a difficult campaign that threatens to see them miss out on Champions League football next season – potentially a disaster after the heavy investment that was made in Slot’s squad last summer.

Big changes are coming at Anfield this summer, with Mohamed Salah’s departure having been confirmed, while there is the likelihood of several big signings.

Liverpool nearing Ibrahima Konate agreement

Liverpool’s first port of call, though, will be completing an important contract renewal for centre-back Ibrahima Konate.

Transfer expert Nicolo Schira has confirmed: “After the first two bids turned down, Ibrahima Konate is currently getting closer to extend his contract with Liverpool. In addition to the renewal, the centre-back will receive a huge increase in salary.”

Current ETV

Ibrahima Konaté

D (C)

Liverpool

Ibrahima Konaté

D (C)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€35.6M - €43.5M

Van Dijk and Salah mistake all over again?

A deal for Konate would echo the move that Liverpool made in 2025 to extend the contracts of both Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the closing stages of the season.

At the time, those extensions were seen as logical as both players were central to Liverpool’s Premier League title success. Fast forward 12 months and that decision is not looking so smart, with both having toiled.

Might Konate suffer a similar fate? After all, this move smacks of Liverpool’s desperation to get a deal done in order to prevent them from having to sign another starting centre-back in the summer.

© SciSports - Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool, 2025/26 Performance

The 26-year-old has been in a period of decline, according to data analysis experts SciSports, but it has not been a sharp slump in his level. Indeed, statistically he still rates as one of the Premier League's leading centre-backs. He notably outperforms Van Dijk, for example.

Nevertheless, there are real questions as to whether this merits a “huge” increase in his salary as has been reported.

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