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Liverpool risk losing Ibrahima Konate on a free next summer after the defender reportedly rejected their initial contract extension offer.
Konate is said to be ‘disappointed’ with Liverpool’s proposal because he wants a higher basic wage.
The France international, 26, was a bastion of their Premier League title triumph under Arne Slot but only has a year remaining on his deal.
There are fears that he could run down his contract and leave for free, as Trent Alexander-Arnold almost did before sporting director Richard Hughes squeezed a £10million fee out of Real Madrid.
His camp are pushing for an improved basic wage after Liverpool structured their offer with too many performance-based bonuses, according to The Guardian.
Liverpool are known to be stubborn negotiators but did get renewals over the line for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk last season, with Fenway Sports Group relenting on their habit of denying extensions for players over 30.
Konate quickly established himself as a favourite under Slot and started all bar two of the Premier League games that he was eligible for.
So impeding was his form for Jarell Quansah that the youngster has has opted to leave Anfield, agreeing a £35million move to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.
Real Madrid are interested in Konate while Atletico Madrid have apparently made Andy Robertson one of their top targets, so Liverpool’s defence may look drastically different in a year’s time to what it did last season.
Liverpool hope to re-open talks with Konate this summer but do not want to overpay.
As Mail Sport reported last week, Liverpool have joined the race for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi.
He is heading into the last deal of his deal at Selhurst Park and Palace’s bargaining power is weaker than it was a year ago, when they turned down a £65m offer from Newcastle.
Jarrad Branthwaite has also been considered by the Anfield hierarchy but signing a player from city rivals Everton would be tricky.
Joe Gomez is also still at Liverpool and Arne Slot likes his leadership qualities though he missed a chunk of last season through injury. Liverpool are not pushing him towards the exit door.
