Konate Set to Leave Liverpool on a Free Transfer as Inter Keep Tabs on Jones

Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expires, ending a five-year stay at Anfield after the club and player failed to reach agreement on a new deal. The 27-year-old France international made 183 appearances for Liverpool after joining from RB Leipzig in 2021, winning one Premier League title, one FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.

Konate had been in talks over an extension, but negotiations never found common ground. He has attracted interest from several sides across Europe, though he has not yet settled on a destination, leaving Liverpool to prepare for life without another senior defender.

The timing matters because Liverpool are already planning for change in defence. Jeremy Jacquet is due to arrive from Rennes this summer, Geovanni Leoni is expected back from injury, Virgil van Dijk remains in place and Joe Gomez has just one year left on his contract, so there could be more movement in that unit.

Liverpool are also thought to be weighing up their options at No 6, with midfield and defensive reinforcement high on the summer agenda. That makes Konate’s departure part of a broader reshaping of the squad rather than an isolated loss.

There is also uncertainty around Curtis Jones. Inter Milan remain interested in the midfielder, who has struggled for regular starts under Arne Slot despite finishing the season with a late run of appearances from the bench and seven starts in a row to close the campaign.

Jones’ future is less clear than Konate’s, but the Italian club’s long-standing interest means Liverpool may yet face another difficult decision if they want to avoid losing value on a homegrown player.

Overall, Liverpool’s summer looks set to involve both exits and rebuild work, especially in central areas of the team. Konate’s likely free departure is the headline issue, but Jones’ uncertainty and the need for midfield and defensive additions show how much work remains at Anfield.